These were the words exclaimed by students when they looked down on the Kansai region from the airplane on their way back.

Many students have already considered Hokkaido as their second home.

The final day of the program, we headed to Asahiyama Zoo in the morning.

Asahiyama Zoo is home to many animals native to Hokkaido.

We first visited the hippopotamus exhibit.

After being amazed by the appearance of the large hippos, we were guided through the exhibit and its backstage area by the zookeepers, who shared many stories about the hippos.

One of the distinctive features of Asahiyama Zoo is its interactive exhibits that showcase the natural abilities and behaviors of the animals. We learned that the zoo's location, with its varying terrain, allows visitors to observe animals from different angles, both from above and below.

In the backstage area, we learned about the daily care and innovative methods the zookeepers use while interacting with the hippos, always putting the well-being of the animals first.

We also learned that there is still much unknown data about many animals, including hippos, and the zookeepers are constantly striving as pioneers to uncover more.

After the zookeepers' talk, we had some free time for independent exploration.

We were able to observe various Hokkaido-specific animals from different perspectives and in different situations.

Some students even found their SD cards full of photos before they knew it.

Our three days in Hokkaido provided not only hands-on learning experiences in various scientific fields but also encounters with various people, ways of life, perspectives, and delicious food.

We hope to apply the encounters we gained here to our daily lives, fostering change and growth in the days to come.