Crested Ibises Released into Wild in Quake-Hit Ishikawa Pref.

Hakui, Ishikawa Pref., May 31 (Jiji Press)–Crested ibises, a Japanese natural monument, were released into the wild in the city of Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, Sunday, marking the first time that such an event was held in the country’s Honshu main island. The Ishikawa prefectural government hopes that this would be a symbol of reconstruction from the January 2024 powerful earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in the prefecture. A ceremony for the release of the birds was held the same day, with participants including Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. At the release event, held at a park in the city, eight crested ibises flew into the sky as the couple and local elementary school children opened the boxes containing the birds. There are 10 other crested ibises kept in temporary cages in the city. They will be allowed to leave on their own will after getting used to the surrounding environment for about two weeks. At the ceremony, Crown Prince Akishino said he wishes the released birds will “bring hopes as a symbol of postdisaster reconstruction.” Ishikawa Governor Yoshiyuki Yamano said, “I’m happy that our dream of seeing crested ibises fly in the sky over Noto has come true for the first time in about half a century.” The number of crested ibises in Japan decreased due to overhunting in the Meiji era and nature destruction. In 1970, the last crested ibises in Honshu were transferred from the Ishikawa town of Anamizu to Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan. The Japanese crested ibises became extinct in 2003, however, as artificial breeding on the island ended in failure. But the country succeeded in breeding for crested ibises donated from China in 1999. Currently, about 500 crested ibises are believed to live on Sado Island. In February 2025, the Environment Ministry selected the Noto area, which was the last habitat of wild Japanese crested ibises in Honshu, as the venue of the release into the wild. “I feel refreshed,” said Yoshio Muramoto, a 101-year-old Hakui citizen who has been engaged in activities to protect crested ibises for more than 70 years. “I hope they will settle down in Noto,” he said. The next release of crested ibises is slated to take place in the Ishikawa town of Nakanoto around September. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]