Zou

Zou is an island located on the back of a massive 1000 year old elephant named Zunisha that roams the New World. It is home to the Mink Tribe and where the Heart Pirates crew members currently reside while waiting for their captain.

Zou is the primary setting of the Zou Arc.

Layout
Zunisha is a massive living elephant that has been around for 1000 years, as a result it cannot be tracked by a Log or Eternal Pose. It shows slight damage due to time as its ear is torn and its body is slightly ragged. Its legs are very tall, making it difficult to get on the island.

The ground on Zou is made up of Zunisha's rippled skin, which makes it difficult to traverse. It was shown to impede Sanji's group after they had arrived and were on the run from Kaido's subordinates, and once Luffy's group arrived, they noticed similar inconvenience with the paths of elephant skin. It also has countless strange trees growing from it with round-shaped formations of leaves that resemble scales.

Twice a day, Zunisha will spout sea water from his trunk, which results in a large blast deemed an "eruption rain" (噴火雨) pouring down from above that can wash away those on its back if they don't take cover. The water raised by him also brings about sea creatures to the surface and the water are later purified for drinking.

Somewhere on Zou is the Mokomo Dukedom, where members of the Mink Tribe dwell. It is a country with ancient-looking buildings and a place known as the Whale Forest that features a unique tree in the shape of a whale.

Whale Forest
The Whale Forest (くじらの森) is a forest in the approximate center of Zou. In the center of the forest, there is a giant tree with a trunk stylized into a baleen whale bending upwards.

The forest is protected by the mink Guardians (侠客団(ガーディアンズ)) who will attack any invaders.

Kurau City
Kurau City (クラウ都) is a city located at the edge of the Whale Forest. The city has been specially designed to accommodate Eruption Rain, with multiple drains and aqueducts. It has been heavily damaged, presumably due to Jack's invasion. He also placed several whipping posts in the middle of the streets, where he tortured the natives during his interrogations.

Rightrump Forest
Rightrump Forest (右尻（ウシリー）の森) is the forest located right on Zunisha's right rump.

Deep, Dark Swamp
Deep, Dark Swamp is the swamp located on Zunisha's hindquarters, basically if you head straight down the path from Rightrump Forest, one will find this place, and if you turn right from here, one can reach the Rightflank Forest.

Rightflank Forest
Rightflank Forest (右腹（ウバラ）の森) is the forest located on Zunisha's right flank (or belly).

Rightflank Fortress
The Rightflank Fortress (右腹（ウバラ）の砦) is located within the Rightflank Forest and is the residence of many Minks, particularly after Jack's invasion.

History
Zou has been home to the Mink Tribe for around 1000 years.

Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and his samurai comrades were headed to Zou, but they were shipwrecked on the way there.

After arriving at Dressrosa, Trafalgar Law gave Nami a Vivre Card. He told her it led to Zou and encouraged her to use it if something happened. After Sanji's brief clash with Doflamingo, the Straw Hats on board the Thousand Sunny set their course for Zou, in order to keep Momonosuke and Caesar out of Doflamingo's hands while the remaining members finished their business on Dressrosa.

Before Sanji's arrival, Jack destroyed Zou in looking for Raizo and left. Sanji and the Sunny guard group finally arrived at Zou the next day, barely escaping Big Mom. They docked near Zunisha's leg. When they arrived to the top, they attempted to find a girl while fighting off Kaido's lackeys and Sheepshead. They were almost washed away by a flash flood. Later on, Chopper noticed something and called everyone to come to his location. With Zou in ruins and the Minks still wounded, It was Nami's courage and Chopper's medicine that puts them on their feet. Sanji however left for unknown reasons.

A week later, Luffy and the others arrived and climbed to the top of the elephant.

Trivia

 * The island may be based on the Sanatani (Hindu) myth of the world residing on the backs of four elephants.
 * Zō is the Japanese word for "Elephant".

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