Beetle Land Maibara is a zoo and nature experience facility located in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, with animal exhibits and experience courses on a 50,000 m2 site under the concept of "learning about the environment through animals and nature. The zoo attracts approximately 100,000 visitors a year, many of them families and school field trips, and is developing activities that combine animal protection and environmental education.
Animal Petting Experience Features
About 50 kinds of animals are kept, and visitors can experience feeding guinea pigs and rabbits in the "Small Animal Village. The breeding policy is based on "respecting the animals' natural behavior," and the staff instructs visitors on how to feed and observe the animals. In the "Insect Pavilion," visitors can observe bamboo beetles and rhinoceros beetles up close, and in the "Butterfly Garden" in the summer, they can interact with hundreds of butterflies. Through these experiences, children can develop a "respect for animal life," and many parents have commented that their children have become interested in insects and small animals.
Seasonal nature experience activities
In the spring, participants learn about the "growth process of fruits" while harvesting organically grown cherries at "cherry picking. In summer, in "river play and waterside observation," participants explore stones and observe aquatic organisms in a nearby river to understand the importance of the water environment. In the fall, in "Mushroom Picking," expert staff teach visitors how to identify the different types of mushrooms, and they can take home the mushrooms they have picked. In winter, at the "Small Animal Winter Preparation Experience," visitors learn about the winter life of animals by spreading straw in rabbit hutches and building bird feeders. Approximately 20,000 people participate in these activities each year, and they are highly regarded for their effectiveness in environmental education.
Outdoor Playground Equipment and Physical Development
The "Adventure Forest" area has a wooden climbing frame, a ropeway, and a water playground, providing fun activities that foster physical strength and coordination. There is also a "mini-golf" and "Japanese archery experience" (using safe soft arrows), offering a full range of facilities for the whole family to enjoy. The "wooden climbing frame" is particularly popular among elementary school field trips, as it offers a variety of heights and levels of difficulty, allowing children to try their hand at climbing according to their athletic ability. Teachers appreciate that "children can develop the ability to solve problems on their own.