Research and studies
We will report on the surveys and research conducted by Kyoto Aquarium.
Survey and Research Column
We are also posting columns about various other initiatives being undertaken at Kyoto Aquarium.
List of survey and research results
- 2025.11
Verification of the effectiveness of taurine intake in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- Wildlife Research Center Joint Research Seminar 2025 Autumn
Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.11
A suspected case of acute pancreatitis in a spotted seal
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 51st Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Reishi Watanabe, Risa Shigaki, Mai Mori, Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.11
Association between environmental stress and insulin resistance in southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 51st Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Risa Shigaki, Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium), Takashi Yamamoto (Azabu University)
- 2025.11
Inhalation therapy and behavioral generation during consultation in southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 51st Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Risa Shigaki, Kensuke Yamada, Yui Uehara, Ryotaro Mukoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.09
Comparison of respiratory diagnostic images of southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 31st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Risa Shigaki, Ryotaro Mukoto, Yu Kamiya, Naoaki Yoshimura, Takuji Oyama (Kyoto Aquarium), Ikusuke Murashima (Shijo Karasuma Animal Hospital), Ikusuke Murashima, Takashi Mori (Daktari Animal Hospital Kyoto Medical Center)
- 2025.07
Aggressive wound care in a bottlenose dolphin calf
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 8th Wildlife Conservation Breeding Research Society Conference
Kensuke Yamada, Rina Okamoto, Yu Tsuchiya, and Seiki Kawasaki (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Why do fur seals sleep in rings? - Toward elucidating surface resting behavior -
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- 6th University Symposium on Zoos and Aquariums
Ryo Shima, Yoko Mitani (Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University), Yosuke Fujimoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 50th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Risa Shigaki, Ryotaro Mukoto, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Aggressive wound care in a bottlenose dolphin calf
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 50th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Rina Okamoto, Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Factors affecting blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid (UA) levels in captive African penguin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 22nd Penguin Breeding Technician Study Group
Naoaki Yoshimura, Ryotaro Mukoto, Rieko Toriyama, Yosuke Fujimoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Examination and treatment possible using husbandry training for southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- 6th University Symposium on Zoos and Aquariums
Risa Shigaki, Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Ryotaro Mukoto, Sakiko Kojima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2025.02
Improving the environment for bottlenose dolphins to give birth at Kyoto Aquarium
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 6th University Symposium on Zoos and Aquariums
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Sogo Yoshizawa, and Seiki Kawasaki (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2024.12
Considerations regarding CT imaging of southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 30th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Ryotaro Mukoto, Kazuyoshi Sakano (Kyoto Aquarium), Ikusuke Murashima, Shinya Kitamura, Takashi Mori (Daktari Animal Hospital Kyoto Medical Center)
- 2024.12
Detection of Cunninghamella fungi in the upper respiratory tract of bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 30th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium), Takahito Toyodome (Veterinary Research Department, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine), Satoshi Watanabe (Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University)
- 2024.12
Genetic Characterization of Captive South American Fur Seals in Japan Based on Mitochondrial and Microsatellite DNA Analyses
- Presentation format:
- paper
- Announcement:
- Zoo Biology
Shogo Omori, Kensuke Noma (Gifu University), Yosuke Fujimoto, Rieko Toriyama (Kyoto Aquarium), Kanako Tomizawa (Omuta City Zoo), Ryo Tadano (Gifu University)
- 2024.11
Nitrogen gas-bubble disease in two giant salamanders
- Presentation format:
- paper
- Announcement:
- Disease of Aquatic Organisms
Masaru Kadekaru, Yuichi Nakamura (Okayama University of Science), Rieko Toriyama, Seiki Kawasaki, Yasutoshi Ishizaka (Kyoto Aquarium), Yumi Une (Okayama University of Science)
- 2024.11
Structures for Social Contact?: Burr-like Structure on the Frontal Edge of Pectoral Fins in Odontocetes
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- the 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals
Mai Sakai (Kinki University, Faculty of Agriculture), Daiki Inamori, Yurie Watanabe (Taiji Whale Museum), Yuichiro Akune (Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium), Nozomi Kobayashi, Masaru Higa (Okinawa Churashima Foundation), Sogo Yoshizawa (Kyoto Aquarium), Nobuyuki Kashiwagi (Kagoshima Aquarium), Harumi Takagi, Toshiyuki Tachikawa (Shimonoseki Aquarium), Banpu Ogi (Mikurajima Tourism Association), Noriko Funasaka, Masamichi Morisaka (Mie University, Faculty of Biological Resources)
- 2024.09
About the breeding of bottlenose dolphins at Kyoto Aquarium
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 7th Wildlife Conservation and Breeding Study Group Conference
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Sogo Yoshizawa, and Seiki Kawasaki (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2024.09
Mirror response and self-recognition tests in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- 88th Convention of the Japanese Psychological Association
Chen Xiangchun, Fujiyama Miku, Nakajima Sadahiko (Kwansei Gakuin University), Tsuchiya Yu (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2024.03
Stress assessment research on marine mammals conducted in collaboration with multiple aquariums and universities
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 5th University Symposium on Zoos and Aquariums
Haruka Nakajin (Kyoto University), Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2024.03
A study on metabolic syndrome mitigation treatments in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- 5th University Symposium on Zoos and Aquariums
Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2023.12
A case of hepatobiliary disease in a southern fur seal
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 49th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Sakiko Kojima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2023.12
Improving the environment for bottlenose dolphins to give birth
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 49th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Sogo Yoshizawa, Seiki Kawasaki, Katsuhiko Matsumoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2023.11
On the structure of the leading edge of the pectoral fins in toothed whales
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 42nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Animal Behavior
Mai Sakai (Kindai University), Daiki Inamori, Yurie Watanabe (Taiji Whale Museum), Yuichiro Akune (Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium), Nozomi Kobayashi, Masaru Higa (Okinawa Churashima Foundation), Sogo Yoshizawa (Kyoto Aquarium), Nobuyuki Kashiwagi (Kagoshima Aquarium), Banpu Ogi (Mikurajima Tourism Association), Noriko Funasaka, Masamichi Morisaka (Mie University)
- 2023.09
Contrast-enhanced CT scan of a southern fur seal
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Kensuke Yamada, Rieko Toriyama, Yu Tsuchiya, Sakiko Kojima, Seiki Kawasaki, Katsuhiko Matsumoto (Kyoto Aquarium), Ikusuke Murashima, Akiko Yumiba, Takashi Mori (Daktari Animal Hospital Kyoto Medical Center), Osamu Tanaka, and Shukawa Mizunashi (Kuu Animal Hospital)
- 2023.09
Telomere length and its variability in marine mammals: potential use as an indicator of chronic stress
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Haruka Nakajin, Satoko Kimura (Kyoto University), Yuichi Mizutani (Nagoya University), Koji Kanda, Takashi Kamio (Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium), Takaomi Ito (Kaiyukan), Kensuke Yamada, Rieko Toriyama (Kyoto Aquarium), Ikuo Wakabayashi, Sayo Sonezaki (Toba Aquarium), Yasuaki Niizuma (Meijo University)
- 2023.09
Water release as a method to reduce regurgitation behavior in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- 87th Convention of the Japanese Psychological Association
Chen Xiangchun, Gao Jiang, Sadahiko Nakajima (Kwansei Gakuin University), Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2023.09
Research on telomere length and its variation in marine mammals
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- Japanese Society of Mammalogy 2023 Annual Meeting
Haruka Nakajin, Satoko Kimura (Kyoto University), Yuichi Mizutani (Nagoya University), Koji Kanda, Takashi Kamio (Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium), Takaomi Ito (Kaiyukan), Kensuke Yamada, Rieko Toriyama (Kyoto Aquarium), Ikuo Wakabayashi, Sayo Sonezaki (Toba Aquarium), Yasuaki Niizuma (Meijo University)
- 2023.02
A pair of parrotfish (Ophiodontiformes, Ophiodontidae) and a pair of parrotfish (Lacrididae, Parrotfish) recorded in Kyoto Prefecture
- Presentation format:
- paper
- Announcement:
- Taxa Journal of the Japanese Society of Systematic Zoology
Kanami Oku (Kyoto Aquarium), Fumito Tashiro (Hokkaido University Museum, Fisheries Science Museum), Seiki Kawasaki (Kyoto Aquarium), Yoshiaki Kai (Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University)
- 2022.12
Considerations regarding cephalic births in bottlenose dolphins based on domestic cases
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 48th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium), Masayuki Hosono (Adventure World), Katsutoshi Kinoshita (Marine World Umi no Nakamichi)
- 2022.03
Research into mitigating metabolic syndrome in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- Wildlife Research Center Joint Research Seminar 2021
Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2021.11
(Online) A case of cephalic birth in a bottlenose dolphin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 47th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Yosuke Fujimoto, Seiki Kawasaki, Katsuhiko Matsumoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2020.12
Examination of measures to reduce regurgitation behavior in captive bottlenose dolphins
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 2020 Yugyokai Symposium
Karin Kono, Sachiko Asano, Tomoya Otsuki, Mai Sakai (Kindai University), Xiangchun Chen (Kwansei Gakuin University), Yu Tsuchiya (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2020.02
Treatment of toe ulcers in African penguin using a new wound dressing agent, Prontosan
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 19th Penguin Breeding Technician Study Group
Kensuke Yamada (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2020.02
Maintaining stable feeding motivation and body weight data during the molting period in captive African penguin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 19th Penguin Breeding Technician Study Group
Sakiko Kojima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2020.02
Keihanshin Three Zoos Collaborative Project "Turn Around and Discover!" "Penguin Footprint Collection from Around the World 'Peta, Peta, Peta'"
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 28th National Penguin Conference
Tomi Ishida, Keisuke Furuta, Hiromi Nakayama, Motoki Sugiura (Suma Aqualife Park), Yukazu Kobayashi, Yuriko Kawabe, Kazufumi Chimoto, Nami Tomizawa, Jun Kayashima, Michi Uno (Kaiyukan), Yosuke Fujimoto, Shinji Maezaki, Asako Uchiki, Seiki Kawasaki, Sakiko Kojima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2019.11
Modification of surgical procedures under sedation based on the case of a bottlenose dolphin that died during surgery
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 45th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Takashi Kamio, Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Seiki Kawasaki, Katsuhiko Matsumoto (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2019.08
Diagnosis and treatment of bimandibular MRSA-associated botryomycosis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 25th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Takashi Kamio, Kensuke Yamada, Kazuki Shioyu, Yu Tsuchiya, Seiki Kawasaki, Minoru Shimomura (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2019.08
(Free Meeting) Postoperative management of MRSA-associated abscess in a bottlenose dolphin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 25th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Takashi Kamio, Kensuke Yamada, Yu Tsuchiya, Seiki Kawasaki, Minoru Shimomura (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2018.08
A retrospective study of gastric cancer in captive penguins
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 24th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Chinatsu Hikita, Mai Miyazaki, Kana Matsuda, Maki Mukaida, Kohei Asami, Chiemi Baba (Rakuno Gakuen University), Masatoshi Kadokawa (Otaru Aquarium), Naoya Matsumoto (Noboribetsu Bear Farm), Hajime Iwao (Niigata City Aquarium), Fumiko Akashi (Kyoto Aquarium), Miku Kido (Tobu Zoo), Minoru Okamoto (Rakuno Gakuen University)
- 2018.08
A case of placentitis observed in a captive fur seal
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 24th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Baba Chiemi, (Rakuno Gakuen University), Akashi Fumiko, Matsuda Kana, Kawasaki Seiki (Kyoto Aquarium), Hikita Chinatsu, Mukaida Maki, Asami Kohei, Miyazaki Mai (Rakuno Gakuen University), Murata Ryo (Rakuno University, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Bacteriology), Okamoto Minoru (Rakuno University, Department of Pathology, Animal Medical Center)
- 2016.12
Relationship between the incidence of toe ulcers and plasma concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc in captive African penguin
- Presentation format:
- Post
- Announcement:
- Micronutrient Research
Fumiko Akashi, Yuji Oda, Sakiko Kojima, Sogo Yoshizawa (Kyoto Aquarium), Itoyo Shimizu, Shozo Tomonaga, Masayuki Funaba, Toru Matsui (Kyoto University)
- 2015.08
Attempts at tooth extraction in captive bottlenose dolphins due to their seeking behavior
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 21st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Yuko Oshima, Kazuki Shioyu, Asami Hagino, Sogo Yoshizawa (Kyoto Aquarium), Fumio Terasawa (Enoshima Aquarium), Toru Okawahara (Okawahara Dental Clinic)
- 2015.08
Pharmacokinetics of rifampicin after repeated oral administration in cetaceans
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 21st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Anna Inoue, Kazuaki Sasaki, Rie Shimizu (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology), Yuko Oshima (Kyoto Aquarium), Hideaki Shindo (Shimonoseki City Aquarium), Makio Yanagisawa (Okinawa Churashima Foundation), Minoru Shimoda (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)
- 2014.11
A case of gastritis in a bottlenose dolphin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- Japanese Society for Aquatic Biology and Medicine
Yuko Oshima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2014.10
Temporary assisted rearing of southern fur seals
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- 40th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Yu Tsuchiya, Yuko Oshima, Minoru Shimomura (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2014.09
A case of birth in a southern fur seal
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- Japanese Society of Mammalogy 2014 Annual Meeting
Yoshizawa Sogo, Oshima Yuko, Shimomura Minoru, Ashikari Harumasa, Miura Haruhiko (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2014.01
About the "Walking" Penguin Exhibit
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 23rd National Penguin Conference
Takuki Koda (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2014.01
Sex-specific growth curves of captive African penguin and the effectiveness of early sex determination
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 13th Penguin Breeding Technician Study Group
Jota Kawakami, Tetsuya Okazaki, Sogo Yoshizawa, Minoru Shimomura (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2013.10
A case of birth in a southern fur seal
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 39th Marine Mammal Engineers Research Meeting
Yoshizawa Sogo, Oshima Yuko, Shimomura Minoru, Ashikari Harumasa, Miura Haruhiko (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2013.08
A case of fibrosarcoma in a African penguin
- Presentation format:
- Poster presentation
- Announcement:
- The 19th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Fumiko Akashi, Yuko Oshima, Sogo Yoshizawa, Minoru Shimomura (Kyoto Aquarium), Konomi Ito, Takaomi Ito (Kaiyukan), Masamichi Okamoto, Kazuhisa Oji (Ooji Animal Hospital), Masayuki Kachi, Natsumi Watanabe, Minoru Okamoto (Rakuno Gakuen University)
- 2013.08
Let's increase the number of African penguin!
- Presentation format:
- Providing topics
- Announcement:
- The 19th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Wildlife Medicine, a public lecture jointly sponsored by the Japanese Society of Wildlife Medicine and the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Yuko Oshima (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2013.01
Kyoto Aquarium Facility Introduction
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 21st National Penguin Conference
Harumasa Ashikari, Tetsuya Okazaki, Minoru Shimomura, Haruhiko Miura (Kyoto Aquarium)
- 2013.01
Comparison of growth curves between naturally reared and artificially reared captive populations of African African penguin
- Presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Announcement:
- The 12th Penguin Breeding Technician Study Group
Hiroyuki Fukushima, Tetsuya Okazaki, Minoru Shimomura, Sogo Yoshizawa (Kyoto Aquarium)
