Unknown Nichigo

Do Little

A koala at Tama Zoological Park

Blessed with a bit of time and being in close proximity, I used the beautiful weather to visit Tama Zoological Park, testing a new Nikon Z 50 camera.

I first visited this zoo in 1993, at a time when the memory of the 1984 arrival of koalas was still fresh.

Koalas were flavor of the month in Japan at the time, literally so in the case of Koala no March–a confectionary that remains popular to this day–and the zoo’s Australian Habitat was something of a showcase area.

Now, it’s just one of many habitats in what is a delightful little zoo nestled into the Tama hills.

KOALA-IFIED TO SELL

Though no longer a sole drawcard to the popular zoo, koalas are still a key part of its marketing, particularly this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of koalas in Japan. The koalas were a gift from the state of New South Wales, which is in a sister-city relationship with the Metropolis of Tokyo.