清掃事業所志望から「しぶしぶ来た」元バンドマンの飼育員が33年後…旭山動物園の園長に　ヒナの死から学んだ教訓“中途半端な気持ちでは…”北海道旭川市

■33-Year Veteran Zookeeper Appointed as New Director This spring, a new director was appointed to that zoo. Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa City, Director Shinichi Nakata "Where are they? A baby seal was born on March 15th, and it's huge! Until now, we've mostly done artificial feeding, so I'm really reminded of how amazing a mother's milk is." A baby spotted seal born last month at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa City. Shinichi Nakata, who became the director this spring, is beaming with pride as he watches it grow. A zookeeper with a wild appearance, he also has a side as an idea man, such as "drawing illustrations for the zoo's brochures." Asahiyama Zoo, Director Shinichi Nakata "I still haven't fully accepted (becoming director)... It's like, 'No way, no way!'" 33 years from Nakata's first job to becoming director. We'll delve a little deeper into the history of Asahiyama Zoo and its future prospects. ■Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo, who has been in charge of many popular animals Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "The Amur tigers from the time of 'Ichi' and 'Non,' whom I was in charge of for quite a long time." This is footage from 2005. When the zookeeper turned their back to the enclosure, 'Ichi,' the Amur tiger, would attack with great force. Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "He developed liver cancer midway through and couldn't even stand up, and gradually weakened (he died in 2009). At that time, seeing 'Ichi's' struggle against illness taught me how strong and precious animals are." Mr. Nakata has been in charge of many popular animals, often called the "flowers of the zoo." As the first leader of the seal exhibit, he was the first to artificially raise a baby seal that had been abandoned by its mother. (2004) Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "Since they couldn't be fed with a regular baby bottle, we had to insert a rubber tube into their stomachs and pour the water in. They hated it, so that was a real struggle." Later, he was also in charge of giraffes and hippos. He has a particularly memorable anecdote about a baby hippo. Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "I never imagined they'd be toddling around like that. I was surprised, and their movements were so funny." ■ He took the employment exam because he wanted to work in the cleaning department… "I came reluctantly." Mr. Nakata, who has a deep love for animals, was assigned to the zoo in 1993. At the time, he attracted attention as the "first new zookeeper in seven years." Asahiyama Zoo Deputy Director Masao Kosuge (April 1993): "Mr. Nakata, you'll be in charge alone from today, so do your best." Director Shinichi Nakata: "I took the exam hoping to work for the cleaning department within the Asahikawa City Hall, but when I received my appointment letter, it was here (the zoo). I still vividly remember feeling 'reluctantly' here." At the time, Mr. Nakata was in a rock band. He never dreamed he would end up working at a zoo. ■Lesson Learned from the Death of a Chick: "With Half-Hearted Attitudes..." On his first day as a zookeeper, he was intimidated by animals he'd never seen before, such as pheasants and capybaras, but it was here that he discovered an ostrich egg. Asahiyama Zoo Director Shinichi Nakata: "I put it in an incubator, a machine for warming eggs, and without really understanding what I was doing, I just rolled it around every day, and one day the chick hatched." Incredibly, a newcomer succeeded in hatching an ostrich chick for the first time at Asahiyama Zoo. However, the joy didn't last long. Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "After raising the chicks, on the third or fourth day, one of them suddenly died. The chick taught me that if you do things half-heartedly, you'll end up killing a life that was born just three days earlier." ■The Future He Aims For: "I want to increase visitor satisfaction." Recognized for his leadership skills, Mr. Nakata was promoted from veteran zookeeper to director this spring. What is his vision for the future as the new director of Asahiyama Zoo? Shinichi Nakata, Director of Asahiyama Zoo "Currently, the annual number of visitors is just under 1.4 million. I've experienced times when we had 3 million visitors, and back then, it was so crowded you'd bump into people just walking around the zoo. There was an hour-long line to get into the seal exhibit. While more visitors are always better, I want to increase visitor satisfaction." A new animal enclosure will open on the 29th of this month, adding even more attractions. Asahiyama Zoo Director Shinichi Nakata "There is an existing Pallas's cat enclosure, but there is a slope next to it, and we have expanded the enclosure using that space. I am looking forward to seeing how they move." ■ Pallas's cat enclosure expanded… New attractions one after another, opening on the 29th (Keiichi Hori, newscaster) Shinichi Nakata, who has been appointed as the new director of Asahiyama Zo...