Taipei Travel

Missy Bear and Xiong Ba, a sister-and-brother pair of sun bears from the Tropical Rainforest Area at Taipei Zoo, departed for Japan on March 30, 2026, and arrived safely that afternoon at Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo, Japan, where they will begin a new life as conservation ambassadors.

Taipei Zoo and Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, signed a friendship agreement in 2013 and have long worked together on international wildlife conservation and exchanges in animal care techniques. For example, the Chinese alligators and poison dart frogs in Taipei Zoo's Amphibian and Reptile House came from Maruyama Zoo. This sun bear exchange was also arranged as part of the overall regional ex-situ conservation planning for East Asia.

Both Missy Bear and Xiong Ba were born and raised at Taipei Zoo, where the zoo has created a living environment suitable for bears through diverse enrichment facilities. Before departure, the teams from both zoos maintained close communication on details including desensitization and acclimation, behavioral observation, and health monitoring. The two bears entered their transport crates early in the morning and arrived safely that afternoon, where they will gradually adapt to their new environment.