Japan to survey 'animal cafes' amid infection, welfare concerns
TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of the Environment will begin a survey as early as September into the actual conditions at "animal cafes" where customers ca
Japan's Ministry of the Environment plans to launch a survey in September to assess the conditions at animal cafes, where customers can interact with rare animals such as otters, owls, and lizards. The survey will examine factors like the number of establishments, types of animals handled, hygiene management, customer demographics, and more.
Concerns have been raised over potential infection risks, animal welfare, and ecosystem conservation issues. Japan currently has looser regulations compared to countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and South Korea, which have restrictions on the types of wild animals that can be kept in such cafes. The Act on Welfare and Management of Animals requires businesses handling certain animals to follow specific standards, but detailed regulations for birds and reptiles are still pending.
Experts argue that the government should clarify its stance on the effectiveness and necessity of animal contact and ensure thorough hygiene management to address infectious disease risks.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
