Life in the slow lane
Location – Nagasaki Bio Park
Temperature – 7
Nagasaki Bio Park is situated in West Nagasaki, near Omura Bay. There is a free shuttle bus available from Huis Ten Bosch to the park. You can also reach it by car, shuttle, or bus, although traveling from the city will require a transfer. Nagasaki Bio Park is a zoo and includes a smaller petting zoo which has grown internet famous recently due to a certain event that occurs before its residents’ bedtime!
I took the shuttle bus to the bio park and was not disappointed. The journey lasted about 40 minutes and passed through some beautiful scenery. The area is very rural, and as we crossed the bridges and drove along the coastal sections, we could see some of the islands of Nagasaki. Along the route, there are also many bamboo groves, hidden shrines, and small villages. The journey itself was worth it.
The entry fee for Nagasaki Bio Park is 2,200 yen, which includes access to the petting zoo. The park is a decent size, and I spent roughly four hours exploring it. You'll want to prioritize which animal exhibits to visit, as many feeding times are scheduled at the same time. My priority list included the capybara baths and the special event at the end of the day.
There are several dining options throughout the park. During my visit, I seized the chance to try a Sasebo burger, as I had missed out on this dish while I was in Sasebo. The Sasebo burger often competes with the famous Karatsu burger, with many people passionately claiming that their preferred burger is the best. After trying both burgers, I can say that I enjoyed each one. However, I might need to try a Sasebo burger from a more renowned place before I can make a judgment. The Karatsu burger I had was also very good! I need to sample more burgers before I can declare a winner... all in the name of science!
The park features some charming attractions, such as the monkey exhibit. Visitors are advised to zip up all bags and securely hide any valuables, as the inquisitive monkeys tend to climb all over guests in their territory!
Walking through the flower greenhouse is a delightful experience, with a welcoming temperature of 24 degrees, providing a pleasant break from the colder weather outside. Colourful parrots are often seen flying around, and keen-eyed visitors might be lucky enough to spot a local sloth. Additionally, adorable bats hang upside down, peacefully snoozing, and there are many tropical flowers that make for great photo opportunities.
There is a very cute shrine set up on the exit of the flower greenhouse offering animal themed fortunes! The route around the park is clearly labelled and has fun animal trivia dotting the journey. The enclosers are spaced out so the trivia is a fun addition to keep younger guests entertained. The walk was a nice way to also experience the nature of the park as it is built to work with nature. The llama encloser makes use of the rocky hilly section and the areas with water are cleverly used.
The Beaver enclosure was one of those areas that cleverly utilized the flowing river. I found it amusing how nature's little engineers decided that a tree in their enclosure needed to be removed, while the park officials tried to save the poor tree in question. This was mainly because if the tree toppled, it would likely disrupt the nearby trail.
The main stars for me were the Capybaras! Natures overgrown guinea pigs! Capybaras are part of the Cavie family, so they are closely related to Guinea pigs, gerbils and degus. They are the largest rodent in the family and an internet sensation! Japan cannot get enough of them despite the fact they are not native to the country! So, what are some fun facts about natures overgrown Guinea pigs? Like their smaller counterparts they also live in communities of up to a hundred! They have slight webbed feet and 4 toes on the front and 3 on the back! Unlike their smaller counter parts, they are semi aquatic. They can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes and are very strong swimmers.
Continuing with the fun facts, Florida man make way! Florida Capy is here to stay some escapees from local cattle ranches has seen Florida’s capybara population grown exponentially however no one has exact numbers. Capybaras are herbivores but they are picky! Unlike the Guinea Pig who is named not because it is related to a pig but for its appetite! On the topic of appetite both Guinea Pigs and Capybaras cannot produce their own vitamin c meaning if they are not supplemented diet wise both develop gum disease and scurvy!
Like all rodents the front teeth grow continuously for their whole lives so they must chew daily to keep them ground down. They communicate via many cute sounds like barks, whistles and chirps. The life span of a capybara is only 8-10 years in captivity, most rodents sadly do not live long enough. I have owned many rodents of varying types in my life and conclude they do not live long enough for how friendly they are.
As to the why Capybaras went viral in Japan that is a topic for another blog entry!
Nagasaki bio park offers a chance to see the Capybaras bathing during the colder months, this is like many locations in Japan where shrines are opened in the colder months to allow the furry rodent to bath with yuzu fruits. The park allows visitors to feed the furry inhabitants with nuggets or eucalyptus branches. The inhabitants are very pleased with this arrangement.
The last highlight for me was visiting the petting zoo, especially since I had seen the viral video of it many times. It was exciting to finally experience it in person! The famous guinea pig bridge was a delightful sight. The petting zoo is a small building that houses domestic animals commonly kept as pets. Outside, there were bunny rabbits; however, one white and black rabbit kept wavering on whether to go outside or stay inside, which is typical rabbit behaviour. I’m familiar with the sound of scrabbling paws on a door, only to watch the rabbit turn around moments later, choosing to remain inside where it’s warmer.
Dogs and cats can be found in this room, which is divided so that the felines can retreat if they find their canine neighbours too loud. The doors to the back are kept open, allowing the animals to decide when they have had enough interaction for the day. There is also a local sloth making the rounds, along with a very chatty parrot that speaks both Japanese and English! It was a delightful surprise when I attempted to speak to the parrot in Japanese, only to be greeted with a cheerful “bye bye!”
One of the main attractions is the guinea pigs, which live at the base of a cute little tree and can be fed by visitors. During my visit, there was a separate section for some baby guinea pigs and their pet goat. Yes, you read that correctly—two full-sized goats also call this place home! One of the goats was even sleeping in the baby pen, while the baby guinea pigs curled up beside him, enjoying their very own personal radiator!
Visitors can brush the goats, hold the parrot and feed the guinea pigs. There is also a guide on which animals should not be petted or fed! The highlight of the evening is the famous guinea pig bridge. The bridge is lowered into the pen surrounding the tree and links up to a serious of tunnels that lead to the back no doubt the guinea pig’s bedroom for the night. With the ring of a bell the inhabitants line up and walk across in an orderly fashion! Creating quite the spectacle.
I noticed that one of the reasons this place was so viral and famous was the use of social media. Whilst there I saw local keeps streaming the giraffe feeding times, the viral guinea pig bridge is another example where social media was used to create awareness. The zoo uses social media to raise money and bring in the visitors. I am unsure of the situation in Japan but in the UK, I know many zoos struggle with funds and money. So, it is interesting to see how Zoos can use social media to aid their situations. People love animals and people who cannot visit Japan can watch the streams and videos and feel connected. I had a lot of fun at the Bio Park and would suggest adding it to an itinerary if you have some space free.
