Scenes with Creatures: Land Animals

Asilah is a Moroccan port town known for its vibrant street art, where artists from around the world gather.

The donkey in this landscape was captured in the outskirts of Asilah. Donkeys might not be familiar to many in Japan, but they might remind you of the “Town Musicians of Bremen.”

In the story, the donkey is portrayed as a character with leadership and kindness, guiding a group of animals including a dog, cat, and rooster. While the donkey in the video appears relaxed, you can’t help but imagine that it might be a reliable and steady companion.

Did you know that llamas live at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu? (I didn’t!)

Llamas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America and have been important livestock for thousands of years due to their gentle nature and endurance. It’s humbling to think that they’ve been supporting humans for so long.

This capybara isn’t wild but lives at an aquarium. Capybaras are native to South America, and their name means “grass-eater” in Portuguese. The two capybaras in this landscape are doing just that—eating grass.

In Japan, capybaras are often associated with relaxing in hot springs. Although their warm, fluffy fur might suggest otherwise, capybaras don’t tolerate cold weather well since they originate from South America.

This elk, also known as a wapiti, was filmed in Redwood National and State Parks in California. While elk aren’t familiar in Japan, the sheer size of their bodies and antlers is striking.

Due to their impressive appearance, elk often appear in North American mythology and legends.

The ring-tailed lemur is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail, which has multiple rings. In fact, the Japanese name for this lemur, “輪尾狐猿” (ring-tailed fox monkey), reflects this feature.

These lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and are designated as the national animal of the country.

The Sahara Desert, which covers about one-third of Africa, stretches to Morocco’s Chebbi Dunes, where these camels were filmed.

The area is popular for tourism, with activities such as camel rides to watch the sunset or stargaze. Watching these camels munch on hay is a soothing experience.

These wild horses, designated as a national natural monument, were filmed at Cape Toi in Miyazaki Prefecture.

You can see them grazing against the backdrop of lush green fields and the blue Hyuga Sea. These horses are rare native Japanese breeds, living freely without human intervention.

In the spring, after the foaling season, you might even see foals. Would you like to catch a glimpse of these rare wild horses?

Iriomote Island, with 90% of its area covered in pristine forest, still retains much of its untouched nature.

These cows are grazing peacefully on a farm, enjoying the clean air and abundant natural surroundings.

Also in Okinawa, this scene features a water buffalo. Water buffalo carts are a popular tourist activity, and some of you may have experienced riding one.

The leisurely pace of the water buffalo, along with the sound of the waves and the sanshin, offers a calming sense of Okinawa.

In the cherry blossom-filled spring of Nara Park, you can see deer peacefully grazing and gracefully walking among the blooming trees.

The deer at this popular tourist destination are accustomed to people and will approach you for deer crackers.

Ezo squirrels, which can be seen in parks throughout Hokkaido, Japan, are also found in parks around the world.

In this video, the squirrel is adorably munching on what seems to be a nut or seed.

On Hateruma Island in Okinawa, goats can be seen all over the island. When I was in elementary school, goats tethered to posts were a common sight in nearby rice fields and farms.

Goats are often kept for grazing purposes because they eat grass cleanly. Considering the overgrown weeds at my house, I might need a goat too.

Finally, we introduce the animals living at a winery in Napa Valley, California. You can spot goats, chickens, and even a peacock perched in the background.

According to the Castello di Amorosa website, the goats were originally tasked with eating the grass between the grapevines, but they preferred to munch on the grapes and olive branches, so they were moved to another area. Quite an endearing story, isn’t it?

You can check out photos of them on Instagram under the hashtag #CastellodiAmorosaGOAT.