Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Japanese Zoo Staff Dress as Pandas
A zoo in Japan had pandas for 31 years, but they were all sent back to China.
The zoo had a special panda named Rauhin, who was the first panda born and raised in Japan.
Now, the zoo has no real pandas left, but the staff members are dressing up as pandas to make visitors happy.
They let visitors act as their instructors and handlers.
This fun idea became very popular when Japanese news reported about it.
The zoo is trying to keep the memory of the pandas alive and make sure visitors still have a good time.
Visitors can even feed the ‘human pandas’ and receive a keeper certificate.
Adventure World amusement park in Japan lost its last four pandas, which were returned to China in June 2023.
The park had housed pandas for 31 years, including Rauhin, the first panda born and raised in Japan.
To keep visitors engaged, the zoo has staff members dressing up as pandas and letting visitors act as their instructors and handlers.
This quirky method went viral after Japanese media reported on it in December 2023.
The zoo has kept all its panda-related arrangements in place, though it is unclear if it will get more pandas from China in the future.
- Who
- Staff members of Adventure World amusement park in Japan
- What
- Staff dressing up as pandas to engage visitors after the real pandas were returned to China
- When
- The pandas returned to China in June 2023; the staff dressing up went viral in December 2023
- Where
- Adventure World amusement park, Wakayama prefecture, Japan
- Why
- To keep the memory of having pandas alive and to ensure visitors remain engaged
- Location
- Adventure World amusement park, Wakayama prefecture, Japan
- Pandas Returned
- Four pandas (Rauhin, Yuihin, Saihin, Fuhin) returned to China in June 2023
- Pandas in Japan
- Pandas were housed in the park for 31 years
- First Panda Born in Japan
- Rauhin, 24 years old
- Staff Dressing as Pandas
- Four staff members dressing as pandas to engage visitors
- Viral Attention
- The quirky method went viral after Japanese media reported on it in December 2023
- Panda Love Club
- Visitors can feed the ‘human pandas’ and receive a keeper certificate
- Program Duration
- 90 minutes