Nine endangered crested ibises have been released into the wild in central Japan, marking the second release of the species on the country’s main island of Honshu as conservation efforts aim to expand its range.
Image of crested ibis used for illustrative purposes/Ron Knight/Wikimedia Commons
According to The Japan Times, the birds were released in Nakanoto, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Wednesday. The event follows the release of 18 crested ibises in nearby Hakui earlier this year, in May and June.
The initiative aims to establish populations beyond Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, where years of breeding and conservation work have helped the species recover.
The nine birds, aged between one and 13, were bred at facilities in Tokyo, Niigata and Shimane prefectures. After a temporary enclosure was opened at around 11.30am, all nine had flown out within approximately 90 minutes.
The release was organised by Japan’s Environment Ministry in partnership with the Ishikawa prefectural government, local municipalities and other organisations.
At a commemorative ceremony, Nakanoto Mayor Tameyuki Miyashita said the goal was to work with local communities to create a place where crested ibises could thrive alongside people and nature.
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From extinction to recovery
Japan’s native crested ibis population became extinct in 2003, following decades of decline linked to overhunting and habitat deterioration associated with pesticide use.
Conservation efforts subsequently focused on captive breeding. The first successful reintroduction took place on Sado Island in 2008, using birds bred from a pair donated by China.
Since then, the wild population on Sado Island has grown to approximately 500 birds, providing a foundation for efforts to establish the species in other parts of Japan.
Another release is planned for Izumo, in Shimane Prefecture, in 2027, as conservationists continue working to restore the crested ibis to more of its former range.
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