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The Japanese Ueno Dobutsuen is the oldest and most famous
zoological garden in Japan. It was first established in 1882, and its
administration was transferred to the Tokyo city government in 1924.
Laid out in the traditional Japanese style, the garden is situated on a
32-acre (13 hectares) site in the Ueno district of Tokyo. The zoo
suffered a lot of damage in World War II but was rebuilt within 10 years
following prewar lines.
Improvements were soon organized and put into actuality in the late 20th
century. The modernization program includes the renovation of buildings
and addition of ecological and animal exhibits.
  
Among the renovated buildings and new additions are an elephant house
(1968,) a big-cat house (1974,) and an aquarium (1964) which has special
exhibits of goldfish, jellyfish, and a few terrariums for reptiles.
The Ueno Zoologi cal
Garden has more than 8,860 specimens representing around 422 animal
species including the rare giant salamander and breeding groups of
several rare pheasants and wallabies. The giant panda, Sumatran tiger,
and western lowland gorilla head the list of the zoo's population of 422
species. Ueno has more variety than any other zoo in the nation.
Within the limits in which it operates, the Ueno Zoo attempts to provide
the animals an environment similar to the natural habitat.
The zoo also hosts programs for public education and sponsors projects
for active research on zoo animal husbandry and reproduction.
In the year 1958, the zoo went on expansion and opened a sister
facility, the 125-acre (50 hectares) Tama Zoological Park, in the
outlying district of Hodokubo, which enabled it to expand its
collection of animals.
One unique exhibit at the Tama Park is a four-acre insectarium where
around 15,000 native insects are bred, displayed, and studied.
 The
Park’s collection is organized according to their regional origin.
Emphasis is placed on Asian and African animal groups.
Redistribution of the animals among Tokyo's other zoos (including Tama
Zoo and Inokashira Nature Park) left Ueno without a lion. However, in
response to public demand, Ueno borrowed a female from the Yokohama
Municipal Zoo.
 Tama
Park boasts of a good breeding herd of scimitar-horned oryx and Indian
rhinoceroses.
Animal conservationists and ecology students will delight in browsing
the collection of international studbooks for the Japanese serow and the
Manchurian crane.
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