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Mount Fuji Crowds Shrink After Japan Brings in Over-Tourism Measures 

This photo taken on September 10, 2024 shows the temporary gate at the Yoshida Exit at the 5th station of Mount Fuji being closed to coincide with the end of the summer mountain climbing season, at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture. (AFP)
This photo taken on September 10, 2024 shows the temporary gate at the Yoshida Exit at the 5th station of Mount Fuji being closed to coincide with the end of the summer mountain climbing season, at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture. (AFP)
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Mount Fuji Crowds Shrink After Japan Brings in Over-Tourism Measures 

This photo taken on September 10, 2024 shows the temporary gate at the Yoshida Exit at the 5th station of Mount Fuji being closed to coincide with the end of the summer mountain climbing season, at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture. (AFP)
This photo taken on September 10, 2024 shows the temporary gate at the Yoshida Exit at the 5th station of Mount Fuji being closed to coincide with the end of the summer mountain climbing season, at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture. (AFP)

Fewer climbers tackled Mount Fuji during this year's hiking season, preliminary figures show, after Japanese authorities introduced an entry fee and a daily cap on numbers to fight overtourism.

Online reservations were also brought in this year by officials concerned about safety and environmental damage on the country's highest mountain.

The number of climbers fell by 14 percent between early July -- when the volcano's hiking trails opened for the summer -- and early September, according to the environment ministry.

To calculate its preliminary figures, the ministry used infrared devices installed on the four trails.

It comes despite Japan welcoming a record influx of foreign visitors, with nearly 18 million tourists entering the country in the first half of 2024.

Officials raised the alarm last year about overtourism at the once-peaceful pilgrimage site, with the local governor of Yamanashi region warning that "Mount Fuji is screaming".

This summer the environment ministry counted around 178,000 climbers, compared to more than 200,000 the previous year and before the pandemic.

Gates to the trails were closed on Tuesday, marking the end of the hiking season. The preliminary data runs to September 4 and will be updated on a later date, a ministry official told AFP on Wednesday.

The mountain is covered in snow most of the year but during the summer many trudge through the night to see the sunrise from the 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit.

This year, an entry fee of 2,000 yen ($14) plus an optional donation was charged on the popular Yoshida Trail, with numbers capped at 4,000 per day. The three other trails remained free.

Concern had been raised that some climbers were sleeping on the trail or starting fires for heat, while others became sick or injured after trying to reach the summit without breaks.

Mount Fuji is about two hours from central Tokyo by train and can be seen for miles around.

The majestic mountain is a symbol of Japan that has been immortalized in countless artworks, including Hokusai's "Great Wave".

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Chilean Zoo Stages Easter Egg Hunt with Treats for the Animals

A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
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Chilean Zoo Stages Easter Egg Hunt with Treats for the Animals

A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Step aside, children — this Easter egg hunt is for zoo animals only.

At the largest private zoo in Chile, several of its animal residents — meerkats, monkeys, lemurs and others — searched on Sunday for their food packaged as Easter egg-themed treats.

The “egg hunt” is an annual event at Bioparque Buinzoo in the country’s capital, Santiago, meant to both entertain visitors and stimulate natural food-hunting behavior in various species.

The Associated Press said that zookeepers placed small bags decorated like Easter eggs but packed with meat in the enclosures of small felines, such as caracals, who leapt up tree branches to get their snacks.

A meerkat had a basket with eggs placed in between some rocks in its enclosure. Monkeys and lemurs were treated to fruits hidden in brown paper bags decorated with bunny years.

Ignacio Idalsoaga, the zoo's director, said that “in nature, these animals spend much of their life looking for food” so the zoo wanted to recreate that behavior.

The treats and snacks were “not chocolate eggs,” he added reassuringly but foods the animals would eat in their natural habitat.

The annual even has been held for the past 16 years, Idalsoaga said. This year, sheep also had to forage for their food pellets inside a colorful sphere with holes in it.

“Our creative team has been very imaginative this year” Idalsoaga said.

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Toddler Injured by Wolf in the US after Crawling Under Zoo's Exterior Metal Fence

A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
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Toddler Injured by Wolf in the US after Crawling Under Zoo's Exterior Metal Fence

A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo

A toddler was lightly injured by a wolf at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after he crawled under a fence and stuck his hand into the animal’s enclosure, officials at the zoo confirmed Sunday.

According to The Associated Press, the child was never inside the wolf habitat at the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, which is part of the Hersheypark theme park, and the officials characterized the injuries as minor without elaborating.

After the “unsupervised” child reached the metal enclosure around the wolf habitat on Saturday morning and put his hand through, a wolf approached “and made contact with the child’s hand,” according to a statement from the zoo.

“This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression,” the zoo said in a statement. “Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”

The zoo is part of the entertainment complex in Hershey, Pennsylvania, featuring a chocolate-themed amusement park. The zoo's website says it has three gray wolves.

Hersheypark made headlines last summer when a lost boy wandering a monorail line above a crowd was rescued by a park visitor who climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails. The child was unharmed and reunited with his family.

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Best Time to Take Vitamin D for Muscle Strength

Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
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Best Time to Take Vitamin D for Muscle Strength

Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a central role in both bone and muscle health.

With growing interest in dietary supplements, a key question arises: what is the best time to take vitamin D to support muscle strength?

This article reviews the latest scientific evidence on vitamin D timing and its impact on muscle health, offering practical recommendations based on recent research.

The optimal time to take vitamin D is with or after a meal that contains fat- preferably in the morning or at lunchtime. Taking it with food enhances absorption, supporting bone health and contributing more effectively to muscle strength. It is also advisable to take it at the same time each day for best results.

How Vitamin D Works in Muscles

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning its absorption in the intestine depends heavily on dietary fat. When taken with a fat-containing meal, micelles form, facilitating its transport across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. It then reaches muscle cells, where it helps promote muscle protein synthesis and improve muscle fiber function.

Scientific Evidence on Timing

A randomized controlled trial published in Nutrients (2022) found that taking a combination of whey protein and vitamin D3 either before sleep or after waking led to beneficial increases in muscle mass in young men undergoing resistance training.

Importantly, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of muscle gains, suggesting that vitamin D’s benefits for muscle health are not dependent on a specific time of day, but rather on consistent intake.

Effects on Sleep and Melatonin

Some research indicates a link between vitamin D levels and sleep quality, with low levels associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders.

Certain recommendations suggest that taking vitamin D in the evening may interfere with melatonin production—the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. For this reason, experts generally recommend taking vitamin D in the morning or at midday to avoid potential sleep disruption.

Vitamin D and Athletic Performance

A systematic review published in the Journal of Human Sport and Exercise (2025), analyzing 13 studies on vitamin D and athletic performance, found:

  • Vitamin D supplementation consistently increases blood levels in athletes
  • Noticeable improvements in performance among those initially deficient
  • Mixed effects on muscle recovery and blood markers across studies
  • Seasonal fluctuations in vitamin D levels highlight the importance of supplementation timing

Taking vitamin D with main meals and maintaining daily consistency are key to maximizing its benefits for muscle health. Consulting a healthcare provider is recommended to determine the appropriate dosage based on individual health status and blood levels.