KITAKYUSHU — The sale of kangaroo-themed trading cards, which started this spring in a major local park home to around 350 kangaroos, has exceeded expectations, leading to a new batch being released.
The individual responsible stated, 'We would be pleased if this could enhance supporters' excitement.'
Zoo staff from the municipal Hibikinada Ryokuchi "Green Park," situated in Wakamatsu Ward of the city, suggested the idea of trading cards. This park, which offers multiple attractions, houses the largest number of kangaroos in Japan and attracts many frequent visitors, including devoted kangaroo enthusiasts who often visit just to catch sight of their preferred animals.
The park houses approximately 350 animals belonging to four different species: eastern gray kangaroos, yellow-footed rock-wallabies, common wallaroos, and brush-tailed rat-kangaroos. The collectible cards showcase 20 of the park’s 93 eastern grey kangaroos, including 10 male and 10 female individuals.
The facility started offering postcards in 12 different designs showcasing kangaroos captured through photographs taken by zoo staff back in September of last year. However, following a suggestion from one of the keepers who said, "It might be intriguing to also offer trading cards," these were launched earlier this April. These card-size items are colored prints displaying an image of each animal’s face along with their name, date of birth, notable features, and preferred diet.
Twenty kangaroos were primarily selected from the animals preferred by the keepers. Although their typical life expectancy in captivity is approximately 15 years, the group includes individuals spanning a broad age spectrum, ranging from the nation's eldest at 21 to those as youthful as 5.
Selling started on April 4, aiming for 200 cards within two months. This objective was achieved ahead of schedule, as 247 cards were sold by May 6. As sales remain strong, a second batch of 20 kangaroos will be released on June 13.
A 38-year-old zookeeper supervisor named Shogo Uemura, who knows the facial features and names of each eastern grey kangaroo at the facility, stated, "Every individual has a distinct appearance and character, so I encourage people to focus on each one and choose a preferred kangaroo. Our objective is to issue trading cards featuring all 93 eastern gray kangaroos in five installments."
Trading cards can be purchased at the gift store located close to the entryway of the kangaroo exhibit. One individual card is priced at 100 yen (approximately 62 cents). Sets containing five cards are available for 400 yen (roughly $2.50), while packs with ten cards cost 800 yen (around $5.00). For further information, reach out to Green Park via phone number 093-741-5545 (in Japanese).
(By Takeshi Saito, Kyushu News Department)
