Although the first images of Japan refer us to large urban centers such as Tokyo and Osaka, Japan has a diverse fauna and is of great importance to the Japanese people who try to conserve existing species.
Unfortunately, Japan has many species at risk of extinction and in its history, there are several species that are already extinct! Mostly due to human greed, but currently illegal hunting and improper consumption are declining.
Despite being extinct and endangered, there are about 130 types of land mammals, more than 600 species of birds, about 73 species of reptiles and more than 3,000 different types of fish. Many of these animals are on the brink of extinction and are rarely found outside of Japan. The Japanese fauna deserves to be explored, so we will see 5 animals of the Japanese fauna threatened with extinction.
Table of Contents
Albatross
The albatrosses are large birds belonging to the family Diomedeidae, being seabirds that are extremely adapted to life in the open sea, found on land only during breeding season. They are monogamous and tend to form large colonies of their species.
They are great swimmers because they have all their toes facing forward and joined by an interdigital membrane that also helps with landings and takeoffs on water. Albatrosses have a salt gland that removes excess sodium chloride from the blood, and they also have thermal protections.
Unfortunately in Japan they are threatened with extinction, and this, as bad as it may seem, is a consequence of human causes. According to the Ministry of the Environment, there are around 3,000 short-tailed albatrosses living in Japan. While there are other species such as the black-footed albatross, wandering albatross and Laysan Albatross, only the short-tailed albatross is protected as it is considered an Endangered species.
And the extinction of albatrosses came from human greed. Since the 19th century there has been hunting for albatrosses, because in countries like the United States, albatross feathers were very valuable on the market, in several mass massacres, the population of albatrosses dropped dramatically, with more than 300,000 deaths of the birds.
In 1993, the Ahōdori (as it is known in Japan) was added to the list of rare wild animals protected by the Wildlife Conservation Law. According to statistics, in 1990, the population of albatrosses was around 1,200 birds. By 2010, it is estimated that there were 2,570 albatrosses on Torishima, Izu Peninsula.
Blue Whale
The blue whale is the largest mammal on the planet, weighing an incredible 180 tons, and can measure between 30 and 35 meters in length. Since everything about it is large, it’s not enough to mention its diet, as a single adult blue whale can consume almost 4 tons of Krill per day.
Although we can't hear them, the song of blue whales is one of the loudest sounds produced by an animal. They communicate with each other using moans and a series of low-frequency pulses. Under ideal conditions, a blue whale can hear the song of another at distances of up to 1600 km.
Unfortunately, it is threatened with extinction due to human hunting, especially in countries like 日本. The decline of the blue whale began more specifically in 1864, when the Norwegian ship Svend Foyn was equipped with specially designed harpoons to capture large whales.
Quickly, whaling became timely. And in 1925, the United States, the United Kingdom, and 日本 joined Norway for whale hunting. In just 5 years, 44 ships killed 28,325 blue whales. After World War II, the population of blue whales was already scarce, and in 1946, the first laws for hunting restrictions began to emerge. Unfortunately, the real ban only came in the 1960s, with over 350,000 blue whales killed.
Currently, the population of blue whales is estimated to be three to four thousand. A large part of the blame for the near extinction of this whale is Japan, being one of the largest countries specialized in whaling, with the claim, in current times, that they use them for research, although many countries and whale protectors question this.
japanese crane
The grou japonês or Tsuru is a species of birds that lives in East Asia, especially in Hokkaido, Japan. They have an estimated lifespan of about 50 years, and are a species quite faithful to their partner, forming relationships until death.
They are migratory birds, in spring and summer these animals/those birds live in Siberia, where the female lays two eggs each year, but only one chick will survive. In autumn they migrate to the warmer places in Asia (Manchuria, 日本, Korea); they prefer wetlands where they can find abundant food (mice, frogs, large insects and also seeds, leaves, and branches).
It is estimated that there are only 1000 of them, with a high risk of extinction, however, with great encouragement for the preservation of the species. The consequence of this comes from illegal hunting and destruction of habitats. The cranes are famous in 日本 through legends and origami.
iriomote-cat
It is a feline unique to Iriomote, a small tropical mountainous island at the southern end of the Ryukyu archipelago. Since its discovery in 1967, it has been considered an endangered animal. This, in turn, is on the decline to extinction due to habitat loss and roadkill deaths. Its population is estimated between 100 to 109 felines of the species.
They are cats with nocturnal habits, capable of climbing trees and even swimming, they have a varied diet, feeding on mammals and others. They are considered a wild cat. Discovered in 1965 and mentioned only in 1967, it was initially considered a unique species, but after DNA tests, it is suggested that the Gato-de-iriomote may be a subspecies of the Southeast Asian Leopard Cat.
Japanese giant salamander
Japanese salamanders are different from the more common salamanders, which can even be confused with small lizards. There is no estimate of how many there are, but researchers say they have a long history in ancient times.
It is the second largest amphibian on the planet, measuring around 1.5 meters and weighing up to 36 kilos. Even though it has a very strange appearance, it is just one of the most curious animals on our planet Earth! National Geographic reveals that the animal can tear off a piece of a human's finger in a matter of seconds.
Even with this power, the salamander is threatened with extinction by man. After being hunted for food, the species is now protected as a national treasure in Japan and great efforts are being made to preserve it and breed it in captivity. Rare, these animals only come out of their hiding places at night and live in icy rivers near mountains.
