Target: Katsuhiro Akimot, Sapporo City Mayor, Hokkaido, Japan
Goal: Order immediate, humane relocation for every remaining animal and impose strong penalties on the zoo operator for reportedly unsafe, unpermitted operations and dangerous public interactions.
A privately run zoo is closing after allegedly operating for years without required permits while promoting extreme encounters with predators. City inspections reportedly found over a hundred illegal structures and noted that hundreds of animals still remained on-site shortly before closure. Despite a transfer plan, authorities have stated that many animals could stay behind after the gates shut—leaving their futures uncertain.
Accounts further describe activities that purportedly allowed visitors to feed a tiger without any protective barrier and even stay in lodging adjacent to a lion enclosure. Signage at the facility reportedly warned guests that it was “dangerous” and “at your own risk,” highlighting concerns that public safety and animal welfare may have been compromised. Meanwhile, officials have demanded subsidy repayments as questions mount over years of alleged noncompliance.
Animal welfare must take precedence as this facility winds down. The city should require a transparent, time-bound relocation plan for every animal, backed by daily veterinary oversight, third-party monitoring, and verified receiving facilities. Administrative penalties should be pursued for the alleged permit violations and any supposedly hazardous practices, along with a prohibition on future animal exhibition licenses for the operator. Demand immediate action to prevent animals from being stranded in shuttered enclosures and to ensure accountability.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Katsuhiro Akimot,
We are deeply concerned by reports that a privately run zoo is closing after allegedly operating for years without proper permits, with inspectors reporting over a hundred illegal structures and noting hundreds of animals still on the grounds close to the shutdown date. These same reports describe extreme, potentially dangerous offerings—such as tiger-feeding without protective barriers and lodging beside a lion enclosure—that raise serious questions about past public safety and ongoing animal welfare.
With a significant number of animals still present, their post-closure fate is uncertain. Leaving predators and other exotic species on a closed site poses clear welfare and safety risks. The operator’s phased transfer plan reportedly leaves many animals in limbo for months, which is unacceptable given the stakes.
We respectfully urge you to: (1) mandate immediate, humane relocation of every remaining animal under a strict, verified timeline; (2) require daily veterinary supervision and independent auditing until all transfers are complete; (3) pursue administrative penalties for the alleged long-term permitting violations and any reportedly hazardous public-animal interactions; (4) bar the operator from future animal exhibition licenses within the jurisdiction; and (5) publish transparent, weekly progress reports so the public can see that every animal is safely placed.
Swift, decisive action will protect these animals and affirm the city’s commitment to lawful, humane standards.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: pelican
