「ゾウさん見るのが初めてで見せたくて来ました」開園前から長蛇の列　７年ぶりに公開　福岡市動物園

For the first time in seven years, the Fukuoka City Zoo opened its Asian elephants to the public. The elephants' names were also announced, drawing many families. After many twists and turns... they're finally here! "There they are!" The Asian elephants were finally open to the public at the Fukuoka City Zoo on November 30th. After being transported from Myanmar in July of this year, one elephant suddenly died, and the opening was postponed due to poor acclimation. Long lines formed before the zoo opened, eager to catch a glimpse of the elephants. A family at the front of the line said, "It must have been around 8 o'clock. This was my first time seeing an elephant, and we wanted to show them off." Named with a green, forest-like image in mind Prior to the zoo's opening, Mayor Takashima and local nursery school children unveiled the elephant's name, chosen from a total of 6,408 entries. The elephants are a 14-year-old male named "Ao," a 22-year-old female named "Yuzuha," a 3-year-old female child named "Wakaba," and a 12-year-old female who died suddenly before their public debut, also named "Sui." Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima said, "Asian elephants live in the forest, so we chose Japanese names that evoke images of greenery and forest, which are appropriate for the local image. As these elephants will be loved for a long time, I hope they will come to love Fukuoka in the future." RKB reporter Yoshiaki Takada said, "The elephants are now open to the public. Although the zoo has only just opened, many people have already arrived, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elephants." As soon as it opened, a large crowd of spectators gathered around the elephant house. Surprised by the children's voices?! The elephants were surprised by the children's shouts of "I can see it!" and "Elephant!" and at one point turned back, perhaps surprised by the children's calls. After that, they seemed to calm down and were seen eating their food happily. The little elephants were so cute. Children who saw the elephants: "It was fun." Children who saw the elephants: "It was my first time seeing such a cute little elephant, and it was so cute." "They were so big, I was shocked." You can also see them from above... Fukuoka City Zoo is proud to be the only place in Japan where you can see elephants climbing uphill. There's also a feature that allows you to see the elephants from an unexpected angle. RKB reporter Yoshiaki Takada: "This is an observation deck built in conjunction with the elephant's public viewing. You can see the elephants from above." The zoo was bustling with families, and the zookeepers in charge, who saw the children having fun... Elephant caretaker Shohei Shirahama: "Everyone was happy, so I hope the children, especially, will remember this day forever." The elephants at Fukuoka City Zoo were welcomed by many people, and it looks like they'll continue to entertain visitors for many years to come. For more details, check out NEWS DIG! ↓ https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rk...