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Zoo postpones summer opening amid police investigation
Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Japan, has pushed back its reopening to Friday after an employee admitted to police he used the zoo's incinerator to dispose of his wife's body, local media reported.
Background
The zoo, one of Japan's most visited, was scheduled to reopen Wednesday for Golden Week, following a three-week maintenance closure. It attracts over a million visitors annually and is known for its distinctive enclosures, including glass domes and overhead cages.
Police search zoo grounds
Authorities began searching the zoo last week after the employee's statement. The incinerator in question was typically used to dispose of animal carcasses. Police have been investigating the wife's disappearance since a friend reported her missing.
Mayor calls situation an 'unprecedented crisis'
Asahikawa Mayor Hirosuke Imazu addressed the media Tuesday, describing the incident as an "unprecedented crisis" that had left him overwhelmed with anxiety.
"No one could have predicted it. I am facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude."
Hirosuke Imazu, Asahikawa Mayor
Closure details and public response
The zoo, which closed for maintenance on April 8, will now remain shut until at least Friday. City officials apologized for the inconvenience and warned that further closures could occur without notice if the investigation requires it.
Despite the delay, the mayor encouraged visitors to return once the zoo reopens, stating, "We are making preparations to welcome you, so we hope that as many people as possible will come to the park."
