From what I have heard, initial damage to the zoo didn't seem too bad after the first earthquake, but following the second earthquake on April 16th, there was noticeable damage sustained around the zoo, particularly in the big cat enclosures. Several of the larger carnivores had to be moved when the damage to their cages was noticed - further aftershocks could easily have worsened the damage and made it possible for the animals to escape, posing a serious risk to nearby residents.
Of the animals that were evacuated, there were two 11-year-old leopards which were taken in by the Fukuoka City Zoological Gardens (which had only arrive in Kumamoto a month previously from a zoo in Yokohama), a 7-year-old lion was moved back to a safari park in Usa (in Oita Prefecture) which was his home until being transferred to Kumamoto last year, a 10-year-old snow leopard was moved to a zoo in Omuta and a 5-year-old Siberian tiger was moved to a zoo in Kitakyushu. It is not known when the animals will be able to return.
The most recent update on the Kumamoto Zoo website at the start of May said that the animals were all safe and there have been no escapes, but there is no indication as to when the zoo will be able to open again. I've heard it might not be until next year... がんばる熊本！！
Click Here to Find Out More About the Kumamoto Zoo
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