Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Japan Releases Nine Crested Ibises in Ishikawa Prefecture
Japan has released nine endangered crested ibises into the wild in Ishikawa Prefecture.
This is only the second release of its kind on Honshu, Japan’s main island.
The effort is meant to help the birds live in more places, not just around Sado Island.
Another 18 ibises were released in the prefecture earlier this year.
Crested ibises used to live in Japan and other parts of East Asia.
Their numbers fell because of hunting, habitat loss, and farming practices such as pesticide use.
The native Japanese population eventually disappeared, and the last Japanese crested ibis died in 2003.
A breeding programme using birds donated by China helped support the effort to bring the species back.
Japan released nine endangered crested ibises into the wild in Ishikawa Prefecture.
It was only the second such release on Honshu, Japan’s main island.
The release aims to restore the species and expand its habitat beyond Sado Island.
Eighteen ibises were returned to the wild in the same prefecture earlier this year.
The bird disappeared from the wild in Japan; a captive-breeding effort using birds donated by China helped conservation efforts.
- Who
- Japan’s conservation effort released nine endangered crested ibises.
- What
- Nine crested ibises were released into the wild.
- When
- The article does not give a date; it says 18 ibises were released in the prefecture earlier this year.
- Where
- Ishikawa Prefecture, on Honshu, Japan.
- Why
- To help restore the species and expand its habitat beyond Sado Island.
Conservation challenge
Conservation response
The species’ decline and recovery effort
Conservation challenge
Overhunting, habitat loss, and agricultural practices, including pesticide use, contributed to the decline; Japan’s native wild population disappeared.
Conservation response
Captive breeding, supported by birds donated by China, and releases into the wild are helping bring the species back and extend its habitat.
- Latest release
- Nine crested ibises
- Location
- Ishikawa Prefecture
- Island
- Honshu, Japan’s main island
- Earlier release
- 18 ibises were released in the same prefecture earlier this year
- Last Japanese wild bird
- The last Japanese crested ibis died in 2003
- Conservation support
- A captive-breeding programme was supported by crested ibises donated by China
- Threats cited
- Overhunting, habitat loss, and agricultural practices including pesticide use