Do you know what an アルパカ (alpaca) is?
It’s a South American animal that looks alot like a llama.
They also look kinda similar to that giant flying doglike character in the ’80s movie “The Never Ending Story“.
From the movie "The Never Ending Story".
Earlier this year, 「上野動物園」 (Ueno Zoo) in Tokyo got a brown female アルパカ (alpaca) named 「モコ」 (“Moko“).
「モコちゃん」 (“Moko“) was alone, so a few weeks ago 「上野動物園」 (Ueno Zoo) got another female アルパカ (alpaca) to live in the same pen as 「モコ」 (“Moko“).
This new アルパカ (alpaca) is white.
Photo: © Tokyo Zoological Park Society
The zoo asked the public to vote on a name for this new アルパカ (alpaca).
The results of the vote were:
「灯」 (“Akari“) got 216 votes,
「ポコ」 (“Poko“) got 198 votes,
「フゥ」 (“Fuu“) got 129 votes, and
「ユラ」 (“Yura“) got 112votes.
So 「モコ」 (Moko)’s new roommate is 「灯」 (Akari)…it means “light” (as opposed to “dark”).
「モコ」 (Moko), brown and 「灯」 (Akari), white(Photos: © Tokyo Zoological Park Society)
Photos: © Tokyo Zoological Park Society
アルパカ (alpaca) are kinda cute, don’t you think?
If you want to see them, you can visit them at 「上野動物園」 (Ueno Zoo) in Tokyo.
Tokyo Five 
Oh! You don’t have your email address appear in the blog. Sending you a message from the mail form you set up in your site doesn’t show you my email domain, but I will send via the form anyway.
LikeLike
>You don’t have your email address appear in the blog.
To reduce the chances of receiving spam mail I use a Contact Form.
LikeLike
Dear tokyo5,
I was planning to pass over the photo use, even if you have no permission, because you definitely seem to be a good reader of our website, and you wrote positively about Ueno Zoo. And I love your pie chart which you created from our news source.
But with the words “Do you think anyone will mind?” we have to respond to it.
Even if your blog is non-commercial, normal etiquette would be adding the source, without which readers of your blog would think you are the copyright owner, because of the notice “Copyright (c) 2008-2010 Tokyo Five.”
I will send you an email. Please see the domain name of the sender address, which is identical
to the website domain.
LikeLike
>you definitely seem to be a good reader of our website, and you wrote positively about Ueno Zoo.
Thanks. My family likes Ueno Zoo and the other Tokyo zoos (as well as the other zoos around the 関東地方 (Kanto Area)).
We have been to them all numerous times over the years.
>I love your pie chart which you created from our news source.
Thank you. I made it using Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop software. Feel free to put it on your site’s page about the Alpaca. 🙂
>with the words “Do you think anyone will mind?” we have to respond to it.
Sorry. That was in response to the anonymous comment you originally left.
>normal etiquette would be adding the source
I’ll add it to this post now.
>I will send you an email.
Thanks. I received it and replied.
LikeLike
Hi, tokyo5,
The alpaca photos you use in this entry are taken from the news below:
http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/topic/topics_detail?kind=news&link_num=13392
http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/topic/topics_detail?kind=news&link_num=13150
Got permission?
LikeLike
That’s right, I took those photos from the Ueno Zoo website.
>Got permission?
No.
By the way, I also took the photo of the character from the “Neverending Story” movie from Google Images without requesting permission.
Do you think anyone will mind? 😉
LikeLike
>Do you think anyone will mind?
We do. We, Tokyo Zoological Park Society, copyright owner, do mind.
LikeLike
>We do. We, Tokyo Zoological Park Society, copyright owner, do mind.
I was doubting if you’re really with the Tokyo Zoos because:
A) you posted your first comment anonymously.
B) I wonder why Ueno Zoo wouldn’t appreciate the free advertising with a positive write-up.
C) Normal business etiquette would be to send an e-mail regarding this…not comment on a blog post.
But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
So, would you like to give me permission to use your Albaca photos or would you like them removed from my blog?
LikeLike
Back To The Future, another classic favorite. Hope you’ll enjoy watching The Never Ending Story when you and your family can, its well worth the time 🙂
LikeLike
We’ll probably rent the DVD one day soon.
LikeLike
Aaah Falkor, it brings back memories when I see him, one of my favorite childhood movies really. Those Alpacas look so cute and adorable..sort of remind me a camel but having a bad case of fur days 😉 I think Akari fits her quite well.
LikeLike
“Falkor“? Is that that “Never-ending Story” character’s name?
I saw that movie years ago…but didn’t think much of it. You like it alot?
LikeLike
Yes that’s the name of the long lashed cute creature, i think he’s supposed to be a dragon but looks more like a dog with the face ..I absolutely love this movie, the 1st one that is ..maybe i should look for its book if there is an english version of it. Your children ever watched this? This is 1 of the many movies I wouldn’t mind watching.
LikeLike
I have introduced many ’80s movies to my kids. They loved “Karate Kid” and “Back To The Future“.
But we haven’t watched “The Never Ending Story“.
Maybe we will.
LikeLike
Chris, you’re hereby upgraded to vegetarian.
LikeLike
Are you a vegetarian?
Personally I don’t think I could be a vegetarian…I like meat too much.
LikeLike
Alpacas, eh? They look tasty.
I never noticed the resemblance with the critter from “The Neverending Story!”
LikeLike
I bet there are cultures that eat them. Almost everything is food somewhere in the world!
(And they probably do taste good, actually. But noone in Japan eats them…Japanese people think alpaca are cute. Actually there’s a TV commercial currently running in Japan that features alpacas).
LikeLike
I’ve just arranged a visit for you – from the comfort of your armchair, virtual for the time being.
http://www.alpaca.co.il/english/about/about.html
Come to visit me as well on your way, as you pass through Tel-Aviv, not virtually… it’s a virtue to be nice to tourists, isn’t it?
LikeLike
Thanks for the link.
I just checked it out.
I don’t I ever will really go to Israel. I don’t go overseas often…it’s expensive. And when I do travel internationally, it’s only ever been to America.
LikeLike
THere is an Alpaca herd in Israel, in the desert. They were imported by a young couple some 20 yrs ago. They sell their wool at a very high price and welcome visitors.
If you come to Israel, know they are in the Mitzpe Ramon area.
LikeLike
So they live in the desert and make living by selling wool from their alpaca?
If I ever go to Israel, I’d like to see them.
LikeLike
oh, thanks so much for the photos. This is my 1st time seeing these animals. I wish the Honolulu Zoo would acquire them.
LikeLike
Is the Honolulu Zoo big?
What types of animals are there?
LikeLike