Ueno Zoo Visitor Numbers Down 20% Without Pandas
Oct 9, 2026 · Ueno
Ueno Zoo Visitor Numbers Down 20% Without Pandas
Overview
Visitor numbers at Ueno Zoo have fallen by 20% since the zoo has been without pandas. As one of the Ueno area's signature attractions, the zoo's drop in visitors is also a concern for the local community.
A 20% decline means that 2 out of every 10 visitors have stopped coming. This suggests just how much the pandas motivated people to visit.
Amid this, the shoebill is drawing attention as a potential new star attraction. The shoebill has been introduced as "the bird that doesn't move." Zoo exhibits are usually thought to win fans through animals moving about or behaving adorably, so it is interesting that the shoebill's stillness itself is being promoted as its defining feature.
There are moves to make the shoebill the zoo's new star attraction in place of the pandas, and all eyes are on whether it can bring visitors back. How a bird that doesn't move will capture visitors' interest is something to watch as Ueno Zoo moves forward.
Key Points
- Visitor numbers at Ueno Zoo have fallen by 20% since the zoo has been without pandas
- There are moves to make the shoebill, "the bird that doesn't move," the zoo's new star attraction
- The shoebill's defining trait of not moving is drawing attention
Facility Information
- Facility: Ueno Zoo
- Area: Ueno
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