A few minutes later
Grassland Area - Back Office
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Minori
My name is Minori Hanasato and I attend Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy! It's nice to meet you!
Minori
Th-Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to help take care of the animals today!!
Nakazawa
Thank you both as well.
Welcome to the Grassland Area. My name is Nakazawa. I look after the animals here.
Welcome to the Grassland Area. My name is Nakazawa. I look after the animals here.
Nakazawa
I'll be working with the two of you all day, so please don't be afraid to ask me any questions that you have.
Nakazawa
I'm sure you two have already heard, but you'll be looking after the shoebill and chipmunks today.
Nakazawa
We'll begin by measuring out their food.
Why don't we start with the shoebill?
Why don't we start with the shoebill?
Nakazawa
Yes, we feed our shoebill rainbow trout and carp, but the ones in the wild survive on a staple of catfish and lungfish.
Minori
That's amazing! They can really gobble them up whole...?! It'd take me at least three bites!
Nakazawa
Hehe. That's not the only surprising fact about them. Shoebills are also known to eat snakes, frogs...and even baby crocodiles.
Nakazawa
Yes, and because they don't have any teeth, they swallow them whole as you said. In that sense, they're very remarkable creatures.
Nakazawa
You should be fine since there have never been any reported cases of shoebills eating people. Also, they're very docile animals.
Nakazawa
Yes!
I'm sure you'll understand when we go to feed our shoebill, Schubert.
I'm sure you'll understand when we go to feed our shoebill, Schubert.
Nakazawa
Now, let's get his trout ready.
Shoebills don't actually have that big of an appetite compared to some other animals, so...
Shoebills don't actually have that big of an appetite compared to some other animals, so...
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Shiho
All we did was move the fish into these buckets. I'm not sure that's anything to be proud about...
Nakazawa
The chipmunks' feed is also relatively simple to prepare, so this area isn't too bad in that department by comparison.
Nakazawa
We have a pygmy hippo just over there in a different area, which is apparently quite a handful.
Nakazawa
I'm told it needs to be given two to three fifteen-kilogram meals per day.
Nakazawa
And that's supposed to be on the low side. Elephants apparently eat five times that.
Nakazawa
Oh, although some animals are easier to feed than others, they're all hard work to clean up after, so be prepared.
Minori
R-Right!
We've done a lot of that for our school's animal caretaker committee, so we should be able to handle that!
We've done a lot of that for our school's animal caretaker committee, so we should be able to handle that!
Nakazawa
Ah, that's wonderful to hear!
Actually, about how we'll be cleaning...
Actually, about how we'll be cleaning...
Nakazawa
I'd like for one of you to clean Schubert's habitat and the other to clean the chipmunks'.
Nakazawa
Please talk it over and decide which you'll be cleaning.
Nakazawa
Oh, that was quick...
I thought you were going to decide after having a chance to feed the animals.
I thought you were going to decide after having a chance to feed the animals.
Nakazawa
Anyway, we're all set to go, so let's head over to where Schubert is!
Shoebill Habitat
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Minori
I knew shoebills were big...
But he's really, really big up close!
He's about up to my shoulder!
But he's really, really big up close!
He's about up to my shoulder!
Schubert
...
Nakazawa
Okay, now that you've met Schubert...
Nakazawa
Let's get straight to the fun part of today's program. Feeding the animals!
Nakazawa
You'll be feeding him by hand!
Put one of the trout in the palm of your hand and offer it to him like a present.
Put one of the trout in the palm of your hand and offer it to him like a present.
Minori
I-I-I-I-Is that really okay?!
You just said shoebills eat baby crocodiles! What if he tries to chomp off our fingers...?!
You just said shoebills eat baby crocodiles! What if he tries to chomp off our fingers...?!
Nakazawa
Remember, he wouldn't be able to since shoebills don't have any teeth. You'll be fine as long as he doesn't chomp down really hard.
Nakazawa
You'll need to go one at a time. Which of you would like to go first...?
Shiho
Yeah, since he seems pretty docile...
Also, chances like this don't come around often.
Also, chances like this don't come around often.
Nakazawa
Hehe. That's the spirit!
Then, for our brave Ms. Hinomori, here's a trout!
Then, for our brave Ms. Hinomori, here's a trout!
Schubert
...
Schubert
...
Schubert
...
*Nom*
*Nom*
Sound Effect: Play
Next Chapter: Schubert The Unshakable Shoebill