Nine crested ibises released in Ishikawa as part of Honshu conservation effort
Nine crested ibises were set free in Nakanoto, Ishikawa Prefecture, marking the second release on Honshu to boost the endangered species' numbers.
In a coordinated effort by the Environment Ministry, the Ishikawa prefectural government, municipal authorities and partner organizations, nine crested ibises were released into the wild at Nakanoto in central Japan. The birds, ranging from one to thirteen years old and bred in facilities in Tokyo, Niigata and Shimane, left the makeshift enclosure about an hour and a half after it was opened. This release follows an earlier event in Hakui where 18 ibises were returned to the wild, representing the second such operation on Honshu.
Conservationists aim to broaden the species' range beyond Sado Island in Niigata, where a successful breeding program has raised the local population to roughly 500 individuals. Mayor Tameyuki Miyashita, speaking at the ceremony, emphasized the vision of creating a community where the ibises thrive alongside people. A further release is planned for Izumo in Shimane next year.
