與歐美等其他國家的動物園相比，日本動物園的門票價格極低，且缺乏私人捐贈與群眾募資的文化。受限於公營體制，園方難以自行調漲票價來因應財務壓力，低薪與人力短缺也導致照護品質面臨挑戰，甚至連引進海外動物或維持物種繁殖都變得日益困難。
全球動物園的發展趨勢已逐漸轉向生態保育與科學研究，但日本動物園在經費拮据的情況下，難以參與昂貴的國際保育計畫。專家警告，日本動物園必須重新定義其存在價值並積極投入保育工作，否則不僅動物數量將持續銳減，更可能在未來數十年內面臨大規模倒閉的命運。
Zoos in Japan are highly popular and numerous, but they are currently facing a severe financial crisis. With over 80 percent of these facilities run by local municipalities, the shrinking and aging population has steadily eroded their tax-based funding, while global inflation has caused the costs of animal feed and energy to soar, making it incredibly difficult for many zoos to even sustain basic operations.
Compared to zoos in Western countries, Japanese zoos have strikingly low admission fees and lack a strong culture of private donations or fundraising. Constrained by their municipal ownership, zoo directors have little power to raise ticket prices to alleviate financial pressures, and low wages alongside staff shortages have created challenges for animal care, making it increasingly difficult to acquire animals from overseas or sustain breeding populations.
The global trend for zoos has shifted toward ecological conservation and scientific research, but cash-strapped Japanese zoos are struggling to participate in expensive international conservation programs. Experts warn that Japanese zoos must redefine their purpose and actively engage in conservation efforts; otherwise, they will not only see their animal populations continue to decline but could also face widespread closures in the coming decades.