Tennoji Zoo Zookeeper Accused of Stealing Animal Feed, Referred to Prosecutors

Published 13:00, Thursday, November 21st
Osaka Prefectural Police have referred papers to prosecutors on a male zookeeper in his 40s at Tennoji Zoo (Tennoji Ward, Osaka City) on suspicion of theft for allegedly stealing food meant for animals kept at the zoo, according to an interview with an investigator. According to investigators and the zoo, the man is suspected of stealing vegetables and fruits intended for animal feed from the zoo’s kitchen on October 1st. He had also been indicted on multiple previous occasions on suspicion of stealing similar items such as vegetables and fruit. The man reportedly admitted to the theft during an investigation by the park. The man had been in charge of raising the animals for over 10 years. ■ Rising prices affect food costs Tennoji Zoo is home to 1,000 animals of about 170 different species, spread across an area of ​​about 11 hectares. The park opened in 1915. It is the third oldest zoo in Japan after Ueno Zoo and Kyoto City Zoo. Last year, Ueno Zoo had approximately 3.26 million visitors, and Tennoji Zoo had approximately 1.71 million visitors. The food given to the animals at Tennoji Zoo consists of over 100 types of food, including vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and sweet potatoes, fruits such as apples and bananas, as well as meat, fish, and grass. Most fruits and vegetables are edible for humans. According to Deputy Director Yasufuku Kiyoshi, animals with a keen sense of smell will not eat food unless it is fresh, so “we provide only the highest quality ingredients” to prevent illness. The recent rise in prices is also affecting feed costs. Last year, the amount purchased was approximately 82 kg of vegetables and 34 kg of fruit per day. The daily rate exceeds 250,000 yen, an increase of about 20,000 yen from fiscal 2021. Asahi Shimbun Company.

動物園でエサ盗んだ疑い、飼育員を書類送検　「上等な野菜、果物」（朝日新聞デジタル） - Yahoo!ニュース

天王寺動物園（大阪市天王寺区）で飼育されている動物用のエサを盗んだとして、大阪府警が同園の40代の飼育員の男性を窃盗容疑で書類送検していたことが、捜査関係者への取材でわかった。 　捜査関係者や園

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