NAGOYA - The Japan Monkey Centre, a primate zoo in central Japan known for its winter tradition of monkeys warming themselves by bonfires, will close from mid-October to renovate aging facilities before reopening in several years.
Home to about 700 monkeys of around 50 species, the facility in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, will open only on weekends and holidays from September, and close its gates from Oct. 19. During the closure, it plans to use social media to post updates on the monkeys and hold events open only to registered members.
The zoo's iconic bonfires date back to 1959, three years after it opened with funding from Nagoya Railroad Co., when staff burned trees that had fallen in a massive typhoon and resident monkeys were seen gathering around the fire.
It later became the first facility in Japan to keep mountain gorillas. Working with partners, including Kyoto University's Institute for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, it is regarded as one of the world's leading primate care and research facilities.
Since 2014, the zoo has been run by a Kyoto University-linked nonprofit foundation. Operating costs have been covered by admission fees and donations solicited under the name "Goshien" -- a Japanese play on words combining "support" and "monkey."
But fencing, paintwork and other infrastructure have deteriorated, and some buildings lack enough space for the animals or could be damaged in earthquakes and other natural disasters.
The renovation will also include improvements to air conditioning and walkways inside the zoo.
"We will carry out a complete overhaul to make this a comfortable place for both the monkeys and our visitors," an official said.
The adjacent Japan Monkey Park amusement park, operated by a subsidiary of Nagoya Railroad, will continue normal operations.
