Hi all,
I was just watching NHK World Japan and they had an update on the Amami Rabbit. They said the numbers are around 200-300 and they are being preyed upon by about 200+ feral cats, surprise, surprise. They had a still photo of a cat dragging a dead rabbit along a road at night. They are in the process of catching the cats and neutering them and then adopting them out once they tame down. Unfortunately of the 150 caught so far only 45 have been adopted. Atleast they don’t neuter and then release them back into the wild like they do in this country. That doesn’t solve the problem, but we don’t seem to understand that and the Japanese do. They were also trying to get people to neuter their cats, but are having a problem with that evidently. If they don’t do more they will lose the international status the area has. I hope they succeed.
Andrew
This reminds me of a recent article in the Smithsonian Magazine about the Key Largo Woodrat (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/save-woodrat-conservationists-deal-invasive-species-first-house-cats-180960445). Their problem is house cats (AKA subsidized predators) who enter the reserve for easy meals on endangered woodrats. USFW is considering shooting any house cat that strays in to the reserve, with ample warning to the surrounding neighborhoods, who have already been told to keep their cats inside.
Part of my new job in Okinawa will be captive-breeding endemic mammals of Ryukyu Islands. I’ll probably start with rodents but the rabbit is also on the list.
You’re in Okinawa now? Nice. I loved it there, hope to go back some day. So much to see on the island and the surrounding ones. You sure get some neat jobs Vladimir.
Andrew
No, we are moving there in July or August. I have to survive 4 more months of New Jersey.
Still cool. At least it’s been a pretty good winter here in the NY/NJ area:-) I envy you:-)