If you can answer this, you’ll prove you’re a true Nishinomiya expert. It’s time for the “Nishinomiya Quiz” corner.
Here’s this round’s quiz↓
Q: What were the father and mother of the world’s first rare hybrid animal, the “leopon,” born at Hanshin Park?
（Photo is for illustration purposes）
Nishi2 staff correct answer rate: 100%
If you haven’t seen the answer yet, give it a try♪
- a.ヒョウとネコ5.8%(9票)
- b.ヒョウとトラッキー9.1%(14票)
- c.ヒョウとライオン85.1%(131票)
The world’s first rare hybrid animal, the “leopon,” was born at Hanshin Park in 1959（昭和34年）.
Book: From “Showa-era Nishinomiya City”
Hanshin Park had everything: an amusement park, zoo, planetarium, pool, ice skating rink, and more.
I was often taken to Hanshin Park when I was a kid, too～.
Among all of its attractions, what made Hanshin Park famous nationwide was said to be the world’s first rare hybrid animal, the “leopon.”
Many of our readers may have gone to see the leopon as well～
The correct answer was c, Leopard × Lion.
Sorry if you thought, “The father was a leopard, and that lion photo is male too!” When I think of a lion, a male lion photo just feels more lion-like, so I used a male image.
The leopon was born to a leopard father and a lion mother.
The father’s name was “甲子雄”（Kaneo）, and the mother’s name was “園子”（Sonoko）.
They must have taken the names from “Koshien”～. The father’s name, “甲子雄,” is pretty decent, but the mother’s “園子” is probably from the “園” in Koshien. Somehow I feel a little sorry for her😅
In 1959, two leopons were born, and apparently the older brother was named “Leokichi” and the younger sister “Ponko.”
The taxidermied Leokichi on display at Tennoji Zoo
The taxidermied “Ponko” on display at Tennoji Zoo
At the time, Hanshin Park was competing with Takarazuka Family Land,
and the birth of the “leopon” seems to have become its savior.
| Body length | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Leopard | 1.3ｍ～1.9ｍ | 30～80kg |
| Lion | 1.4～2ｍ | 120～190kg |
Reference: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Animal Encyclopedia
When you compare the body length and weight of leopards and lions, doesn’t the lion seem way too big?
The weight difference is like an adult and a child～, or maybe even more dramatic than that.
The leopons born at Hanshin Park apparently did not reproduce and remained a one-generation-only hybrid.
