HAKUI, Japan — Eight crested ibises were released into the wild in a north-central Japanese town, marking a significant conservation milestone decades after the species went extinct in the country.
The birds were set free during a ceremony in Hakui city in the Noto region, the last known area where the species was recorded in the wild. Residents and local officials observed as the ibises emerged from individual wooden cages and flew over the surrounding landscape.
Known locally as Toki, the crested ibis is native to East Asia and is distinguished by its white plumage, orange-pink wing feathers, and bright red facial markings.
The species disappeared from Japan’s main island of Honshu in the 1970s due to overhunting and habitat loss. The last native Japanese crested ibis died in 2003 on Sado Island.
Their reintroduction has been made possible through a decades-long captive breeding program supported by international cooperation, including breeding assistance from China. A successful captive breeding pair established in 1999 helped rebuild Japan’s population in controlled environments.
Since 2008, conservationists have gradually released the birds back into the wild. Current estimates place the wild population at around 500 individuals.
Officials said the latest release in Hakui also carries symbolic importance for the region, which is still recovering from a major earthquake in 2024.
Authorities continue to monitor additional birds scheduled for future releases as part of the ongoing restoration program.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
