Announcement Regarding Korone

Thank you, as always, for your warm support and for watching over the marmots at Marmot Village.

It is with great sadness that we share that Korone, who lived at Marmot Village Tokyo, passed away today.

This news has come very suddenly, and our staff are still struggling to process this heartbreaking loss.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who loved Korone, visited her, and watched over her with such kindness and affection. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

About Korone

Korone was rescued in April 2025 and came to live at Marmot Village.

When she was first rescued, she was so thin that her spine was clearly visible. She had little appetite and was so weak that even moving was difficult for her.

Despite her condition, with daily care and constant support, Korone gradually regained her strength. Over the past year, her appetite steadily improved, and she became one of the regular residents at Marmot Village Tokyo, where she was loved by so many visitors.

↑Korone shortly after she arrived at Marmot Village.

Korone absolutely loved to eat.

Whenever it was snack time, she would come up to the staff, affectionately asking for "just a little more," melting everyone's hearts with her sweet personality.

She was also a caring companion. From the evening until the next morning, she would often sleep peacefully on her back alongside Biske, Panna, and Caramel, looking completely relaxed and content.

To our staff, Korone was a truly special part of our everyday lives. Her presence brought us comfort, and her cheerful spirit gave us strength and countless smiles every single day.

The fact that Korone was able to continue her journey, spend time with her fellow marmots, and meet so many wonderful visitors was only possible because of the continued support of everyone who has stood by Marmot Village.

To everyone who came to visit her, called her by name, looked forward to seeing her in photos and videos, and watched over her with such warmth and kindness—thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

 

About Korone's Medical Condition

At Marmot Village, we provide our marmots with regular health checkups as part of their routine care.

Korone also underwent a health examination on June 19, including blood tests and X-rays. At that time, no significant abnormalities were detected.

The first sign that something was wrong came on June 29, when we noticed that she had less appetite than usual.

Our staff immediately began monitoring her condition more closely and providing additional supportive care. The following morning, we took her to a veterinary hospital for further examination.

After undergoing detailed tests, Korone received her first surgery.

Following the operation, she remained hospitalized under the continuous care of the veterinary team. She was gradually working toward recovery while receiving supportive treatment, including a liquid diet.

From the moment we noticed the change in her condition on June 29, the staff at Marmot Village worked closely with the veterinary hospital and did everything we possibly could to support her.

For a time, Korone showed encouraging signs of improvement. However, her digestive system was unable to recover sufficiently, and she continued to have difficulty passing stool.

As a result, on the evening of July 9, it was determined that a second emergency surgery was necessary.

Before the second surgery, to help stabilize her condition as much as possible, Panna, one of her closest companions, donated blood for a transfusion.

With Panna's help and the dedicated care of the veterinary team, Korone fought bravely until the very end.

The second surgery began on the evening of July 9 and continued until around 2:00 a.m. on July 10.

After the surgery, our representative and staff remained at the hospital alongside the veterinary team, staying with Korone and watching over her throughout the night.

A few hours after we left the hospital, we received a call informing us that Korone had peacefully passed away at around 7:00 a.m. on July 10.

The primary cause is believed to have been an intestinal intussusception, which caused a blockage in her intestines and led to a severe deterioration of her intestinal condition.

The veterinarian also told us that Korone was an incredibly strong and courageous little girl who fought bravely until the very end.

Both the veterinary team and everyone at Marmot Village did everything we possibly could for Korone with the knowledge and resources available at the time.

Despite all of our efforts, we were unable to save her. We are left with profound sadness and deep regret over this heartbreaking outcome.


A Time to Say Goodbye to Korone