Nine crested ibis released in Ishikawa, second such release on Honshu
In short
Nine crested ibis were released on Oct. 7 in Nakanoto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the second release of the birds on Japan's main island of Honshu. Organisers used the “soft release” method, opening a temporary cage in the Haruki district at about 11:30 a.m.; Nippon TV News said the first two birds flew out around noon and all nine by about 1 p.m. Sankei Shimbun reported the birds are 1 to 13 years old, and TBS NEWS DIG reported one of 10 planned birds was withheld after an abnormality was observed.
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Nine crested ibis, a Japanese special natural monument, were released in Nakanoto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Oct. 7, the second release of the birds on Japan's main island of Honshu. Organisers used the “soft release” method, opening a temporary cage in the town's Haruki district at about 11:30 a.m. and letting the birds leave on their own, according to Sankei Shimbun, Nippon TV News and Nikkei. Sankei, publishing at 12:55 p.m., said two birds had flown out; Nippon TV News reported the first two left around noon, heading toward Mount Biyo and Mount Isurugi, and that all nine had left by about 1 p.m., which Nikkei also reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The nine birds are between 1 and 13 years old and were born at facilities in Tokyo, Niigata and Shimane prefectures, Sankei reported. Nippon TV News said the group includes a 1-year-old female born at Ishikawa Zoo, and that the birds were brought from Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 25 and kept in the temporary cage to become accustomed to the area. Nikkei reported that the birds had received acclimatisation training in Sado City to survive independently in the wild. Sankei reported that the release work was carried out by the Noto Regional Toki Release Acceptance Promotion Council, made up of Ishikawa Prefecture, local governments and related organisations, jointly with the Environment Ministry. [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]
Haruki district head Mamoru Hirai said, according to Nippon TV News, “It feels like they have finally come out,” adding that many challenges remain before the birds settle and that he wants to pass that work on to younger residents while carrying it out steadily. Ishikawa Governor Yamano said the prefecture would create an environment in which the ibis can settle and keep that environment for children and grandchildren, and that the work must be done in cooperation with residents, the broadcaster reported. Nikkei quoted the governor saying at a press conference on Oct. 7 that the prefecture would also communicate observation etiquette in various settings. [ 6 , 7 ]
The release is the second on Honshu. Eighteen ibis were released in Hakui City, also in Ishikawa Prefecture, in May and June this year, and Sankei reported that by the end of September they had been confirmed in four municipalities in Ishikawa and three cities in Toyama Prefecture. Nippon TV News said 27 birds in total have now been released in the prefecture, including the nine freed on Oct. 7, and that officials hope a flock will form. TBS NEWS DIG reported on Oct. 6 that one of the 10 birds originally planned for release was withheld after an abnormality was observed, leaving nine. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Wild crested ibis disappeared from Japan after the Meiji era, their numbers falling through hunting and the deterioration of their habitat from agricultural chemicals, Sankei reported. Releases began on Sado Island in 2008 after a pair provided by China bred successfully, and the wild population there has recovered to around 500 birds, the newspaper said. The Noto releases are intended to make use of the peninsula's natural environment and to expand the bird's habitat beyond Sado, it said. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The release extends Japan's crested ibis reintroduction beyond Sado Island, where Sankei Shimbun says the wild population has recovered to around 500 birds, to the Noto Peninsula. Local officials describe settlement and coexistence with farming as a long-term task that will need to be carried on by younger residents. The documents report no outcome for the new release beyond the birds leaving the cage.
Key facts
- Nine crested ibis were released in the Haruki district of Nakanoto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Oct. 7. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- It was the second release of crested ibis on Honshu, after the first in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, in May and June. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Organisers used the “soft release” method, opening a temporary cage and letting the birds leave on their own. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The released birds are between 1 and 13 years old; Nippon TV News said they include a 1-year-old female born at Ishikawa Zoo and were brought from Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 25. [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]
- Eighteen ibis were released in Hakui City earlier this year and had been confirmed in four Ishikawa municipalities and three Toyama cities as of the end of September, according to Sankei Shimbun. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reported the release work was carried out by the Noto Regional Toki Release Acceptance Promotion Council, made up of Ishikawa Prefecture, local governments and related organisations, jointly with the Environment Ministry. [ 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reported that one of the 10 birds originally planned for release was withheld after an abnormality was observed. [ 1 ]
- Wild crested ibis became extinct in Japan after the Meiji era; releases began on Sado Island in 2008 and the wild population there has recovered to around 500, according to Sankei Shimbun. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nine crested ibis were released in Nakanoto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Oct. 7, the second such release on Honshu after Hakui City. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The birds were released under the “soft release” method, in which a temporary cage is opened and the birds leave on their own. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The temporary cage was opened at about 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 7. [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]
- Two birds left the cage first, and all nine had flown out by about 1 p.m. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The released birds are between 1 and 13 years old. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Eighteen ibis were released in Hakui City earlier this year. [ 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- One of the 10 birds originally planned for release was withheld because an abnormality was observed. Reported only by TBS NEWS DIG; the nature of the abnormality and the bird's condition are not described in the documents.
- The exact time the first two birds left the cage. Sankei Shimbun, publishing at 12:55 p.m., says two birds flew out after the cage was opened at about 11:30 a.m.; Nippon TV News says the first two left around noon, while Sankei's report implies an earlier exit.
- Whether the released birds will establish a population in the Noto region. The documents report officials' hopes for group formation and coexistence with agriculture, but give no outcome or assessment.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The nine birds are moved from Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, to a temporary cage in Nakanoto to become accustomed to the area. [ 6 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the release is set for Oct. 7 and that one of 10 planned birds will be withheld after an abnormality was observed. [ 1 ]
- The temporary cage in the Haruki district is opened. [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the first two birds leave the cage, flying toward Mount Biyo and Mount Isurugi. [ 6 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports that the cage has been opened and two birds flew out. [ 2 ]
- All nine birds have left the cage, according to Nippon TV News and Nikkei. [ 6 , 7 ]