[Izu Shaboten Park Co., Ltd.] Reduce food loss with animal snacks and feed! The first event will be held at Izu Cactus Zoological Park from Saturday, September 28, 2024

Izu Shaboten Park Co., Ltd.

Press release: September 24, 2024

Reduce food loss with animal snacks and feed! The first event will be held at Izu Cactus Zoological Park from Saturday, September 28, 2024

Izu Cactus Zoological Park × Mizkan Group “ZENB” × Yutori no Kukan Co., Ltd. “Gochisousama Project” has started a sustainable initiative!

Start sustainable initiatives

Izu Cactus Zoological Park (located in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture) agrees with the Mizkan Group's philosophy of “ZENB”, which provides new dietary habits for the future, and considers animal snacks and feed from a food loss perspective. We will implement sustainable initiatives from Saturday, September 28, 2024. In addition, in the future, we will work with Yutori no Kukan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo), which is represented by Shinpei Kurihara, a chef who has become a bridge between ZENB and our garden, to make sure that food waste is made into delicious food for everyone. We will continue to promote the development of edible menus.

Izu Cactus Zoo

Our zoo currently has approximately 140 species of animals, including free-range squirrel monkeys, as well as fruit-bearing plants and trees that serve as snacks for herbivorous animals such as capybaras and kangaroos. Furthermore, by receiving thinned vegetables, outer leaves, surplus seasonal fruits, bamboo, etc. from local farmers, farmers' markets, supermarkets, etc. and using them as part of the feed, we are able to raise the animals and save a little money. However, we have been able to achieve both SDGs efforts. Now, in order to utilize resources without waste and improve the eating habits of animals, our zoo has started a new initiative: snacks and feed for animals from the perspective of food loss.

Thinking about animal snacks and feed from a food loss perspective

This initiative is part of the ZENB park, which has advocated “coexistence between nature and people'' since its opening 65 years ago, and which aims to “contribute to the health of people, society, and the earth'' and “bring together deliciousness and health.'' We sympathized with the vision of the company and realized it. Edamame and pumpkin are made from whole nutritious skins, seeds, and pods that were previously discarded. The theme of this initiative is to use all of these resources to not only effectively utilize them as resources, but also to enjoy them deliciously. Through trial and error, we actually fed these “whole vegetables” to animals, observed their eating habits and dietary preferences depending on the animal species, and confirmed that they could be used effectively as snacks and feed. With an eye toward the future, we devised a customer-participatory event to see how we could spread this sustainable approach to our customers.

Holding events with customer participation

Furthermore, in the future, we aim to make sure that humans can enjoy food waste without leaving any food waste, and we will work with chef Shinpei Kurihara, who has served as a bridge between ZENB and our zoo, to provide food in addition to animal snacks and feed. I'm thinking of another plan. Yutori no Kukan Co., Ltd., led by Mr. Kurihara, is working on the “Gochisousama Project” to solve social issues through food, and is using the ideas of chef Shinpei Kurihara to create “delicious food” while solving various problems. Together, we have carried out various initiatives to achieve this goal.

Shinpei Kurihara, a chef and representative of Yutori Kukan Co., Ltd.

Mizkan Group's “ZENB”, Yutorino Kukan Co., Ltd.'s “Gochisousama Project”, and our garden. Our passion for food and nature has come to fruition in the form of menus, and we will continue to take new steps forward with the goal of making our customers happy with their meals.

Reduce food loss with animal snacks and feed! First event

The first of the “ZENB” series events using whole edamame and pumpkins, including the skin, seeds, and pods, will start on Saturday, September 28, 2024. There are also Halloween-themed performances that are unique to this time of year, and the content is such that children can participate in sustainable initiatives while having fun.

Presenting special vegetable cakes to the animals

[Eat edamame and pumpkin whole and delicious and reduce food waste! Presenting vegetable cakes to animals》

At the event, which will be held from Saturday, September 28th to Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in October, zookeepers will make cakes using ZENB ingredients, as well as vegetables and fruits, and present them to the animals.

[Date] Held on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Saturday, September 28, 2024 to Sunday, October 27, 2024

[Time] Scheduled to be held between 14:00 and 15:00 (approximately 10 to 15 minutes per location)

[Places] Chimpanzee, Capybara Rainbow Square (Capybara, Mara), Capybara Outdoor Bath Exhibition Hall (Capybara), Rock Garden (Panda Goat, Suffolk Sheep), Tapir Exhibition Hall (American Tapir), Sun Plaza (Llama, Mara), Kangaroo Hill (Black Kangaroo, Palma Wallaby, Bennett Wallaby)

*Conducted at one location per day among the above areas, location may change depending on the day depending on weather, animal physical condition, etc.

*Main animals living in each area are in parentheses

[Contents] Use the whole nutritious seeds, pods, and skins that were previously thrown away! Using these “whole vegetables,” zookeepers make special cakes and present them to the animals. In addition to providing animal guides, the zookeepers will also explain about food loss and sustainable initiatives.

[Note] The event time and location will be announced on the day of the event via in-park broadcast. The contents may change or the event may be canceled due to weather or other reasons.

Let's give snacks to ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys

《Let's let the little ones participate in the event too! Enjoy & learn about sustainability in the Halloween mood》

In October, on Sundays and holidays, we are planning an event where customers can take part in hardening pumpkin powder and molding it into the shape of an animal.

[Date] Sundays and holidays from October 6th (Sunday) to October 27th (Sunday), 2024

[Time] 14:30~

[Place] Squirrel monkey tunnel (squirrel monkey, ring-tailed lemur)

*Main animals living in this area are in parentheses

[Contents] Halloween is all about pumpkins. Make animal-shaped snacks using finely ground pumpkin powder, including all skin, seeds, and pulp, and present them to squirrel monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs. In addition to being able to closely observe the behavior and ecology of animals, you can also learn about sustainable initiatives.

[Note] Participation fee: 200 yen per piece (limited number). The content may change or the event may be canceled due to the animal's physical condition or weather conditions.