一羽の老ペンギンさん、けもフレキャラにガチ恋して動物園に前代未聞の奇跡を起こしてしまうｗｗ

In 2017, a curious sight at a penguin enclosure in a Saitama zoo became a topic of conversation. An elderly penguin stood almost daily in front of a panel featuring a popular anime character. Why did its small size attract the attention of visitors, even reaching across the ocean? Let's find out with Zundamon! ■Fun Facts about Grape-kun and Humboldt Penguins 〇Japan is one of the world's leading "penguin-keeping nations": According to the Journal of the Japanese Society of Poultry Science, over 4,000 penguins of 11 species and 5 genera are kept in zoos and aquariums throughout Japan, accounting for approximately one-third of all penguins kept in zoos and aquariums worldwide. Among them, the Humboldt penguin is one of the most commonly kept species in Japan. The penguin enclosure where Grape-kun lived was also part of Japan's long history of penguin keeping in this "penguin-loving nation." 〇 Humboldt penguins also have "pedigree management": Zoos and aquariums record the lineages of rare animals and work to protect genetic diversity while avoiding inbreeding. For Humboldt penguins, pedigree registration and DNA analysis are conducted for captive individuals throughout Japan, and this information is used in breeding plans to protect the entire species. Behind each individual penguin, which is called by its own name, there is also the painstaking work of conservation to connect the species to the future. 〇 Tobu Zoo was a project for the railway company's 80th anniversary: According to the history of Tobu Railway, Tobu Zoo opened on March 28, 1981, as a project for the company's 80th anniversary. A little earlier, on March 16, Sugito Station was renamed "Tobu Zoo Station," and the Hibiya Line direct service was extended to this station. The fact that the zoo's name remains as the station name also tells the story of how this facility was created as a major milestone for the region. 〇 Kemono Friends has an official stance of "together with animals": The Kemono Friends project states on its official website that contributing to the "animals" that are its motif is a major goal. Efforts to give back the enjoyment of the work to real animals and facilities continue, such as the installation of donation boxes in cooperation with WWF Japan and projects that lead to donations to zoos and aquariums. Viewing Grape's story as an event where attention shifts from characters to real animals reveals a slightly different depth. ■Reference Materials The following sites were used as reference materials: ・Humboldt penguin "Grape" has passed away - Tobu Zoo (tobuzoo.com) ・Penguin who fell in love with a "Kemono Friends" panel: Tobu Zoo's "amazing response" after the collaboration ended - J-CAST News (j-cast.com) ・Abandoned by his wife… Penguin Who Fell in Love with Anime Characters Had a Sad Past - BuzzFeed Japan (buzzfeed.com) Japanese zoo mourns anime-loving celebrity penguin - BBC News (bbc.com) Grape, the Penguin Who Fell in Love with Anime Characters, Passes Away; Gained Popularity Worldwide - AFPBB News (afpbb.com) Forefront of Avian Conservation-6. For the Future of the Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) - Japan Poultry Science Association (jpn-psa.jp) Guidelines for Appropriate Facilities: Spheniscidae - Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (jaza.jp) Company History 1981-1990 - Tobu Railway Official Website (tobu.co.jp) Guidelines - Kemono Friends Project (kemono-friends.jp) Together with WWF - Kemono Friends Project (kemono-friends.jp) ・New Project! "Kemono Friends Diary" Launched! ― Kemono Friends Project (kemono-friends.jp) ■ Viewing Notes and Disclaimers This video is an entertainment (fiction) piece based on real-life facilities, animals, works, and public records. While some fictionalization of the characters' feelings and dialogue is included for dramatic effect, there is no intention to defame or slander any specific individual, group, facility, or work. ■ About Related Works and Facilities The "Kemono Friends," Tobu Zoo, and news reports appearing in this video are based on publicly available official announcements, reports, and materials. The reasons for Grape-kun's emotions and actions are not definitively stated, and are expressed based on verifiable observations and human perceptions. Please check the respective official websites for the latest facility and work information. ■Materials used VOICEBOX (Zundamon): https://voicevox.hiroshiba.jp/ Character illustration (Sakamoto Ahiru): https://commons.nicovideo.jp/works/im... Irasutoya: https://www.irasutoya.com/?m=1