With lesser people are going to zoos, gone are the days that zoo are specifically targeted at families and school kids.

Zoos in Japan are now offering events for adults to stimulate their curiosity and even musical performances at night in which they can also enjoy drinking wine selected by wine stewards.

The Omuta Municipal Zoo in Fukuoka Prefecture started a zoo course and an observation session for adults in May last year enabling them to talk frankly about reproduction and breeding.

For 16 years, Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens has been holding a “zoo-keeper for the day” targeted those more than 18 years old once a year. About 200 people apply for the authorized number of 20.

The participants feed pandas, lions and penguins, and clean their rearing rooms. A woman in her 30s said, ‘‘My dream since childhood has been to become a keeper.’’ A man in his 60s said, ‘‘I had been applying for more than 10 years, and my dream was finally realized.’’

Much-loved at the Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo is ‘‘Maruyama Zoo LOHAS Night’’ producing a fantastic atmosphere with illuminations from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. after it is closed.

Performances by professional musicians and Hokkaido-produced wine handpicked by sommeliers can be enjoyed. The program, which started two years ago, was held nine times in fiscal 2007.

Its selling point is a ‘‘posh atmosphere different from the zoo in the daytime,’’ and the program is especially popular among middle-aged and elderly couples and women in their 50s.

Kenichi Kitamura, executive director of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, says

Visitors to zoos are decreasing due to a falling birthrate and the debut of large-size entertainment facilities. Specialization is also required for zoos for survival.

Source: JapanToday

Maybe soon they will introduce moe meido zookeepers. LOL