Taipei City Construction Management Office

On July 24, 2025, Taipei Zoo and Noichi Zoological Park of Kōchi Prefecture signed a conservation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This cooperative milestone was witnessed by distinguished guests from the Taipei City Government Department of Education, Kōchi Prefecture Department of Public Works, Kōchi Prefectural Assembly, Taiwan–Japan Relations Association, and the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office. This not only marks the tenth agreement between Taipei Zoo and regions of Japan, but also signifies a deepening of cooperation in crucial areas such as animal exchange and the cultivation of conservation talent. Together, these two institutions are opening a new chapter in global wildlife conservation.

To achieve meaningful results in global wildlife conservation, modern zoos must go beyond local partnerships and strive to forge integrated conservation exchanges across regions, countries, and institutions. To this end, communication among zoos and partnerships with neighboring institutions play an especially vital role. In recent years, Taipei Zoo has enjoyed strong relations with the Japanese zoo community. It has signed MoUs with a number of prominent institutions across various prefectures and cities, including Tama Zoological Park and Ueno Zoo in Tokyo; Kushiro City Zoo, Sapporo Maruyama Zoo, and Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido; Tennoji Zoo in Osaka; Zoorasia in Yokohama; Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park in Aichi; and Kyoto City Zoo.

On July 24, the zoo further expanded this network as Noichi Zoological Park of Kōchi Prefecture became the tenth Japanese institution to sign a conservation MoU with Taipei Zoo. The signing ceremony was led by the directors of both zoos and witnessed by distinguished guests, including Shu-Fei Yang, Senior Specialist from the Taipei City Government Department of Education; Kazuhiko Yokochi, the Director General of the Kōchi Prefecture Department of Public Works; Kōchi Prefectural Assembly Members Toshihiko Takeishi and Takuma Hatakenaka; Deputy Secretary-General Ching-Hung Lin of the Taiwan–Japan Relations Association; and Dr. Takashi Hattori, Chief Deputy Representative of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office.

In recent years, Taipei Zoo has actively participated in both domestic and international conservation organizations, strengthening cross-institutional collaboration to support the protection of rare and endangered wildlife. Through data analysis and coordinated efforts across countries and institutions, animal transfers between facilities are carefully managed to revitalize captive populations—balancing sex ratios, optimizing age structures, and promoting genetic exchange. These efforts help prevent genetic bottlenecks in rare and endangered species held under human care.

Under the global species conservation and integration plans of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), maintaining strong partnerships with nearby zoos and global species management programs is essential for modern zoos to fulfill their conservation and research missions. Zoos have become the last line of defense for the long-term sustainability of wild populations. The MoU signed between Taipei Zoo and Noichi Zoological Park of Kōchi Prefecture was established with a shared vision of supporting sustainable biodiversity. Noichi Zoo's Jungle Museum stands as one of Japan's most prominent tropical rainforest enclosures, offering a valuable opportunity for the two institutions to exchange knowledge on animal husbandry techniques and collaborative population management.

The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is not only a major event in the zoo community, but also an important step for Taipei City in showcasing the achievements of eco-city diplomacy through global wildlife conservation expertise. Noichi Zoological Park of Kōchi Prefecture is also participating in the youth-focused “Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative” under Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. Through this initiative, Taiwanese youth aged 18 to 30 are invited to intern and engage in exchange programs at Noichi Zoo, promoting the cultivation of conservation talent and fostering youth-to-youth collaboration between Taipei and Japan. This program lays a solid foundation for the next generation to take part in nature conservation work.