There are hundreds of such cafes operating in Japan. According to activists, animals are sometimes kept in cramped spaces there, and their popularity encourages the capture and illegal trade of rare wild animals.
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An investigation will begin next month, initially aiming to clarify key facts, such as the number of establishments and what animals they keep, an official from the Ministry of the Environment told the AFP news agency.
The ministry will investigate whether they comply with relevant laws, including whether the animals have enough space and how often cleaning is performed, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“If we identify establishments suspected of violating the rules set out in the Animal Welfare Act, we may later conduct inspections on site,” he said.
The decision to start the investigation was made based on recommendations from members of an animal welfare expert group.
Animal welfare groups have long been concerned about these cafes, where visitors can pet and play with a variety of animals, including miniature pigs, hedgehogs, owls, and snakes.
A study conducted by the Japan branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showed that some cafes keep endangered species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
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Among them were species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which regulates international trade in wild animals.
In some places, hygiene management was insufficient, visitors were not encouraged to wash their hands after contact with animals, and “microbiological tests detected pathogenic bacteria in several establishments,” the report said.
“Whether otters, capybaras, raccoons, owls, reptiles, or other wild species, this business is built on close contact, prioritizing customer entertainment over animal needs,” said Laila Imai, PETA’s campaign coordinator in Asia.
“Many of them experience constant touching, noise, camera flashes, and interaction with strangers all day long,” L. Imai said.
“What may seem charming to visitors can be stressful and unnatural for animals forced to live this way,” she added.
Some animal cafes operate as centers helping to find new homes for rescued cats and dogs.
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