For Restoring Forest Ecosystem and Native Animals in Yambaru For

It’s not the mongoose’s fault Do not bring any invasive species into Yambaru

Although mongooses are treated as pests disturbing the ecosystem in Yambaru, they are an essential component of the ecosystem in their original habitats like in India. The 3rd Revised introduction of mongooses by humans caused them to disturb the ecosystem in Oki- nawa Island. Therefore, we have to recog- This forest belongs to nize that it’s our fault. In order to conserve native animals in Yambaru, it’s absolutely in- Yambaru’s native species… dispensable to eradicate mongooses from the region.

It is important for us to be aware of inva- For restoring forest ecosystem and sive species in our daily lives. We need to re- native animals in Yambaru member three principles for measures against invasive species: “Do not let them in”, “Do not release them”, and “Do not them spread”.

Mongooses are “Invasive Alien Species” designated by the law Visit the following websites for information on invasive species About the Invasive Alien Species Act ……………………… http://www.env.go.jp/nature/intro/ Transporting and keeping living mongooses is prohibited About measures against invasive species in the Ryukyu Islands ……………………………………… http://kyushu.env.go.jp/naha/wildlife/gairai.html by the Invasive Alien Species Act. In addition, mongooses Database of invasive species, National Institute for are not purchased by governmental bodies. “Mongoose ……………………………………… Environmental Studies http://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/ Busters” is capturing mongooses with special permission,.

What you can do for Yambaru’s future. It is not just mongooses. Please don’t abandon your pet.

Abandoned dogs and cats will turn to feral and eat native endemic and rare animals. Living with humans is what makes pets happy. …… Making your pets happy will make wild animals in Yambaru happy. If abandoned pets turn to feral, they will attack native wild animals. Regulations for handling a house cat enacted by municipal governments in Yambaru, Kunigami, Higasi and Ogimi ● A microchip shall be implanted in a pet cat. ● Application for the registration shall be submitted within 30 days after acquisition of the cat. ● The owner who doesn’t want breeding of his/her cat shall endeavor the breeding control. ● Feeding stray cats is prohibited.

※The above dog and cat are both feral ones taken pictures in Yambaru. Municipal governments in Yambaru: Kunigami, Ogimi and Hi- gashi, enforced the “Ordinance on Welfare and Management of ※Abandoning pets is prohibited by law. Cats” on 1 April, 2005.

Ministry of the Environment Okinawa Prefecture,Environmental Naha Nature Conservation Office Department, Nature Protection Section 1F Naha first local government Bldg., 1-2-2 Izumizaki, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture 1-15-15 Higawa, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, 900-8570 900-0022 TEL：+81-98-866-2243 ／ FAX：+81-98-866-2240 TEL：098-836-6400 ／ FAX：098-836-6401 Edition: Nansei Environmental Laboratory Co., Ltd. Design: Hirayama Printing Co., Ltd. Issued December, 2017 Animals Only Found in Yambaru In Yambaru, there live many endemic animals which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Okinawa spiny rat Ryukyu long-haired rat CR NEWF NNM EN NEWF NNM About Yambaru Yambaru, which means the northern moun- 1tainous area of Okinawa Island, had referred to Yambaru the region of Onna-son and northward before. Shioya Recently, the word is more commonly used to Fukuji Dam the region further north, which might be caused by improved transportation facilities. Okinawa Ishikawa’s frog Yambaru will, hereafter, refer to the SF Line, SF Line Ryukyu robin Amami woodcock EN NEWF PNM a fence line which extends from Shioya to （※Endemic EN NEWF NNM VU NEWF PNM Fukuji Dam, and the area northward. subspecies）

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle Kuroiwa’s ground gecko ※Endemic species of the ※Endemic Okinawa Islands VU NNM subspecies of VU NEWF PNM Okinawa rail （ those that cannot be the Okinawa Yambaru long-armed scarab beetle found on Amami Oshima） Islands CR NEWF NNM EN NEWF NNM

Forests inhabited by A Vulnerable Ecosystem endemic species The Yambaru ecosystem which lacks carnivorous native mammals have caused Namie’s frog Anderson’s crocodile newt Amami and Okinawa Islands are con- unique adaptations to the native fauna and EN NEWF PNM VU NEWF PNM sidered to be isolated from the continent flora, such as non-volant Okinawa rails and at least 1.7 million years ago. Such long Okinawa woodpeckers which forages on the time and further repeated isolation and re- Okinawa woodpecker ground. A unique ecosystem of Yambaru has union of the islands have caused specia- CR NEWF SNM been formulated by the interaction among tion and phylogenetic diversification of such organisms. terrestrial organisms. As a result, the is- Endemic to the Amami and Since the Yambaru ecosystem has been lands are currently inhabited by higher Endemic to Yambaru Okinawa Islands developed in an isolated environment, it is proportion of endemic species. In the Oki- CR Critically endangered EN Endangered VU Vulnerable very vulnerable to the impact by invasive NEWF nawa Island, a lot of endemic species in- National endangered species of wild fauna and flora SNM Special natural monuments of Japan species, especially carnivorous mammals. Ryukyu tip-nosed frog Holst’s frog ※ habit Yambaru in which Fagaceous for- NNM VU Endemic species of EN NEWF PNM National natural monuments of Japan the Okinawa Islands PNM （ those that cannot be ests extend. Prefectural natural monuments found on Amami Oshima）

1 Animals Only Found in Yambaru In Yambaru, there live many endemic animals which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

2 N Prefectural road No.2 2000 1993 2006 Seventeen mongooses were released in Naha and Nishiha- 2004 ra, southern part of Okinawa Island in 1910, in order to control Fukuji Dam the number of rats which ate sugar canes, and venomous Habu A couple of fence lines preventing 1910 snakes which harmed humans. mongooses from 1978 entering the Yambaru region

17 1978 English name：Small Indian Mongoose Northern front line of The only 17 mongooses has increased their popu- mongoose distribution lation and expanded their distribution to the north- 2Scientific name：Herpestes auropunctatus Released in Naha City and ward of the island. Nishihara-cho in 1910. 0 10 20 *Recently the Javan mongoose was scientifically km classified into two species: the Javan mongoose and small Indian mongoose. The mongoose introduced into Okinawa Island is the small Indian mon- Mongooses have entered a goose. Mongoose distribution forest ecosystem in Yambaru in reached to Ogimi-son by the Okinawa habu Tail length is nearly half Weight: Males ： 0.5 to 1kg; which the Okinawa Habu snake the size of total body length. Females ： 0.3 to 0.6kg early 1990s, then expanded is the top predator. Native ani- Native rats and to the Yambaru forests inhab- frogs, etc. mals in Yambaru are suitable ited by threatened animals. preys for mongooses, because Insects, etc. they have never adapted to protect themselves from carnivorous Total body length：50 to 60 cm. Plants mammals. Original distribution of small Indian mongooses is very wide from Western Asia to Southeast Asia. They were introduced into Stomach and fecal contents analysis made it clear that Hawaiian Islands West Indies about 70 islands in tropical areas, including Okinawa Island mongooses fed on more than 30 animal species in Yamba- the Hawaiian, Fiji and West Indies Islands, Fiji ru, including insects, lizards, frogs, birds and mammals. Mauritius during the late 1800s, in order to control rat Endemic animals to Yambaru, such as Okinawa rails, Oki- and poisonous snake populations. The original distribution (yellow) and introduced nawa woodpeckers and Okinawa spiny rats were also regions (red allows) found in them. In particular, Okinawa rails have been found less and less in the area where mongooses have invaded. Their distribution range has been decreased to 60% from Jan. Feb. Mar. Jun. Aug. Sep. Nov. Dec. Apr. May Jul. Oct. the range when they were first discovered in 1981. If we

・They are diurnal and rest under rocks or Mating Mongooses reach sexual leave mongooses in Yambaru, there would be extinction in hollows at tree bases at night. maturity in 180 days after crisis for the native animals. Stomach contents of mongooses Gestation (Left : Okinawa rail; Right : Okinawa spiny rat) ・They are solitary and their home range birth. Once to twice a year, Bearing size is 3–9 ha. they bleed 2-3 pups with 49 ・They are good jumpers and can jump Lactation days gestation period. Independence over a fence up to 80cm in height and of sub-adults Despite the fact that mongooses were introduced to control In the West Indies, Hawaiian Islands, Fiji climb over a fence. However, they Habu snakes, they don’t actually prefer to eat the snakes. It is and Mauritius, many native animals including rarely climb up trees in the wild. believed that these two animals rarely encounter, because small mammals, birds, snakes and frogs are ・Although the life span of mongooses in mongooses are diurnal but Habu snakes are nocturnal. forced to be extinct or declined by introduced Okinawa Island has yet to be known, it Mainly feeding on insects and reptiles but mongooses. If we don’t take measures, the is estimated as one to three years, five they eat a variety of food items：mammals, same thing will happen in Yambaru. years at the longest in other areas. birds, amphibians, arthropods, and even plants and fruits.

3 N Prefectural road No.2 2000 1993 2006 Seventeen mongooses were released in Naha and Nishiha- 2004 ra, southern part of Okinawa Island in 1910, in order to control Fukuji Dam the number of rats which ate sugar canes, and venomous Habu A couple of fence lines preventing 1910 snakes which harmed humans. mongooses from 1978 entering the Yambaru region

4 The Yambaru Mongoose Central and prefectural governments launched mongoose

capturing projects in 2000s. The Yambaru Mongoose Busters (YMB) organized in 2008 plays a key role at the frontline of the mongoose eradica- 1985～ tion project. Since the project has now declined the number of mongooses, Basic Research hit-or-miss trapping could no longer suc- In 1985, University of the Ryukyus (UR) started its basic research. (UR and NDO) 3In1993, the Northern Dams Office, Okinawa Development and Promotion ceed in the capturing. YMB is working Bureau (NDO) started capturing mongooses. In 1999, “Council for Mea- 2000 harder for more effective and efficient capturing through daily observation and sures to Invasive Animals of Okinawa” was organized by relevant organi- OPG started capturing zations including Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the Northern Dam mongooses. long experience, and by analysing huge Office, Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) and UR. OPG in 2000 amount of accumulated data. and MOE in 2001 started mongoose capturing projects across the Yam- 2001 baru area. ●Trapping and monitoring methods MOE started capturing Only a single method is not enough to eradicate mongooses. mongooses. We combine a variety of tools and The Mongoose Busters use a variety of methods to methods in order to implement the project more detect remaining mongooses. 2005 effectively. We are also conducting surveys to inves- In 2005, the Invasive Alien Species Act was enforced to prevent IAS from Invasive Alien Species Act tigate remnant mongoose and the recovery of native harming ecosystem, human health, and agriculture, forestry and fishery indus- enforced. animals. tries. Feeding, bleeding, keeping, transporting and importing IAS are prohibited Mongoose Eradication under the act. The mongoose was designated as IAS, since they damage eco- Action Plan drawn up. systems and agricultural industry. In accordance with the act, MOE and OPG drew up “Mongoose Eradication 2006 A camera with a pas- A pair of a sniffer dog and Action Plan” aiming to eradicate mongooses from Yambaru in 10 years, sive infrared sensor The 1st Fence handler detects a mongoose strengthen their projects with enormous capturing efforts. takes pictures of animals itself and its feces and smell. completed along SF Line. when they pass in front Cylindrical kill traps are of the camera trap. It checked once a month, can monitor not only Steel mesh frame box therefore, can be set more 2008 mongooses but also na- traps are used for the cap- traps and are much more tive animals. Yambaru Mongoose turing in the area which na- efficient than live traps. We tive rare animals inhabit. limit the area and period to Busters organized. The trap must be checked use kill traps taking into ac- A sticky sheet set on everyday to avoid killing count by-catch of native the trap collects mon- native animals. 2013 ～ animals. goose hairs. The 2nd Term Mongoose Sniffer dogs and their handlers Soft catch A handler instructs Eradication Action Plan devel- This trap puts the legs be- a sniffer dog to detect tween jaws covered with oped and The 2nd Fence mongooses. They are rubber so as to capture always together and completed along ST Line. mongooses alive without forming trusting rela- injured. 1st Fence (SF Line) 2nd Fence (ST Line) tionship. In order to prevent mongooses from invading Yambaru, OPG and NDO constructed 2013 the 1st Fence (4.13km in length) between Shioya, Ogimi-son and Fukuji Dam, Mongoose Proof Fence ●One day of Mongoose Busters not only capture mongooses but also monitor native animals using a variety of methods, e.g. recording their witness, feces and voice, etc. Higashi-son in 2006. To enhance effectiveness of the barrier, OPG, furthermore, com- No. 2 completed. pleted the 2nd Fence (7km in length) between Shioya and Taira, Higashi-son in 2013. 900 9：10 Set up and check on traps. 230 500 the forests. Each member heads for their assigned lunch time! Record results of today’s works and pre- The height both of the fences is 1.2m. Metal plates are attached at the top of the 2016 area. They check on the condition of the pare for trapping tomorrow. fences, and the fences under the metal plate have vertically longer mesh structure, traps, replace the bait, and check wheth- Yambaru National Park er any animals have been captured. which make mongooses unable to climb over them. In addition, the fences are bent in designated. L-shape at their bottom on the ground so as to prevent mongoose from digging holes. The 2nd Fence has, furthermore, narrower mesh structure and is attached metal Search for mongoose traces. The dogs are trained 2017 ～ Sniffer dogs and handlers search for to keep their capacity plates at its bottom to prevent invasive snakes from passing through.Moreover, OPG mongooses and their feces and inform and get higher skill. Roll call for each installed the 3rd Fence between Genga, Nago-city to Arime, Higasi-son, to strengthen The 3rd Term Mongoose Erad- Roll call for their detection to the trapping team. team and confirming each team and the works tomorrow, effort to prevent invasion of mongoose. ication Action Plan developed confirming finally sharing and reviewing today’s work. and The 3rd Fence completed. today’s activities.

5 The Yambaru Mongoose Central and prefectural governments launched mongoose capturing projects in 2000s. The Yambaru Mongoose Busters (YMB) organized in 2008 plays a key role at the frontline of the mongoose eradica- 1985～ tion project. Since the project has now declined the number of mongooses, Basic Research hit-or-miss trapping could no longer suc- In 1985, University of the Ryukyus (UR) started its basic research. (UR and NDO) 3In1993, the Northern Dams Office, Okinawa Development and Promotion ceed in the capturing. YMB is working Bureau (NDO) started capturing mongooses. In 1999, “Council for Mea- 2000 harder for more effective and efficient capturing through daily observation and sures to Invasive Animals of Okinawa” was organized by relevant organi- OPG started capturing zations including Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the Northern Dam mongooses. long experience, and by analysing huge Office, Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) and UR. OPG in 2000 amount of accumulated data. and MOE in 2001 started mongoose capturing projects across the Yam- 2001 baru area. ●Trapping and monitoring methods MOE started capturing Only a single method is not enough to eradicate mongooses. mongooses. We combine a variety of tools and The Mongoose Busters use a variety of methods to methods in order to implement the project more detect remaining mongooses. 2005 effectively. We are also conducting surveys to inves- In 2005, the Invasive Alien Species Act was enforced to prevent IAS from Invasive Alien Species Act tigate remnant mongoose and the recovery of native harming ecosystem, human health, and agriculture, forestry and fishery indus- enforced. animals. tries. Feeding, bleeding, keeping, transporting and importing IAS are prohibited Mongoose Eradication under the act. The mongoose was designated as IAS, since they damage eco- Action Plan drawn up. systems and agricultural industry. In accordance with the act, MOE and OPG drew up “Mongoose Eradication 2006 A camera with a pas- A pair of a sniffer dog and Action Plan” aiming to eradicate mongooses from Yambaru in 10 years, sive infrared sensor The 1st Fence handler detects a mongoose strengthen their projects with enormous capturing efforts. takes pictures of animals itself and its feces and smell. completed along SF Line. when they pass in front Cylindrical kill traps are of the camera trap. It checked once a month, can monitor not only Steel mesh frame box therefore, can be set more 2008 mongooses but also na- traps are used for the cap- traps and are much more tive animals. Yambaru Mongoose turing in the area which na- efficient than live traps. We tive rare animals inhabit. limit the area and period to Busters organized. The trap must be checked use kill traps taking into ac- A sticky sheet set on everyday to avoid killing count by-catch of native the trap collects mon- native animals. 2013 ～ animals. goose hairs. The 2nd Term Mongoose Sniffer dogs and their handlers Soft catch A handler instructs Eradication Action Plan devel- This trap puts the legs be- a sniffer dog to detect tween jaws covered with oped and The 2nd Fence mongooses. They are rubber so as to capture always together and completed along ST Line. mongooses alive without forming trusting rela- injured. 1st Fence (SF Line) 2nd Fence (ST Line) tionship. In order to prevent mongooses from invading Yambaru, OPG and NDO constructed 2013 the 1st Fence (4.13km in length) between Shioya, Ogimi-son and Fukuji Dam, Mongoose Proof Fence ●One day of Mongoose Busters not only capture mongooses but also monitor native animals using a variety of methods, e.g. recording their witness, feces and voice, etc. Higashi-son in 2006. To enhance effectiveness of the barrier, OPG, furthermore, com- No. 2 completed. pleted the 2nd Fence (7km in length) between Shioya and Taira, Higashi-son in 2013. 900 9：10 Set up and check on traps. 230 500 the forests. Each member heads for their assigned lunch time! Record results of today’s works and pre- The height both of the fences is 1.2m. Metal plates are attached at the top of the 2016 area. They check on the condition of the pare for trapping tomorrow. fences, and the fences under the metal plate have vertically longer mesh structure, traps, replace the bait, and check wheth- Yambaru National Park er any animals have been captured. which make mongooses unable to climb over them. In addition, the fences are bent in designated. L-shape at their bottom on the ground so as to prevent mongoose from digging holes. The 2nd Fence has, furthermore, narrower mesh structure and is attached metal Search for mongoose traces. The dogs are trained 2017 ～ Sniffer dogs and handlers search for to keep their capacity plates at its bottom to prevent invasive snakes from passing through.Moreover, OPG mongooses and their feces and inform and get higher skill. Roll call for each installed the 3rd Fence between Genga, Nago-city to Arime, Higasi-son, to strengthen The 3rd Term Mongoose Erad- Roll call for their detection to the trapping team. team and confirming each team and the works tomorrow, effort to prevent invasion of mongoose. ication Action Plan developed confirming finally sharing and reviewing today’s work. and The 3rd Fence completed. today’s activities.

6 To monitor the population and distribution of Okinawa rails, since 2007, Minis- try of the Environment has been con- ● Trapping efforts is expressed as “trap days” = the number of traps x trap- This result suggests that the mongoose population ducting playback surveys, which sound 4ping days. For instance, if 100 traps are set for two (2) days, “trap days” is is decreasing. the rail’s calls with a speaker, then 200 trap days. count call-back from wild rails respond to the sound. 2009 When first discovered in 1985, Okinawa rails were found in the area between Shioya and Taira. Their distribution area had, however, been smaller toward the 2000 2005 2010 2016 northern area with invasion of mongooses. Trap days：78,576 Trap days：279,896 Trap days：1,303,149 Trap days：1,681,314 Number of captured Number of captured Number of captured Number of captured mongooses:：123 mongooses:：575 mongooses:：230 mongooses:：78 2007 In FY 2007 when the number of captured mongooses reached its peak and exceeded 600, we couldn’t confirm Okinawa rails in the southern part of Yambaru.

Shioya

In FY2010, the number of captured mongoos- Taira es drastically declined and reached to the 200s. ●Capturing points of mongooses ●Trap locations However, few rails have confirmed in the southern part. 1000 detected not detected 0.50 700 2000000 0.45 uninvestigated 1800000 0.40 2010 600 1600000 0.35 500 1400000 0.30 1200000 400 0.25 1000000 0.20 300 800000 0.15 200 600000 0.10 400000 100 200000 0.05 0 0 0.00 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Since 2012, adult and Despite less than 400,000 trap days, more mongooses The number of captured mongooses per 1000 trap young rails were found in had been captured until 2007. However, the number of cap- days reached its peak in 2003, then turned to declin- the southern part of Yam- tured mongooses has declined since 2008 though much ing. It has been further declining with very low value baru, which indicated that more trapping efforts have been done. since 2010. This shows that the density of mongoos- the rail recovered its dis- es in Yambaru has now got to extremely low. tribution. A chick of Okinawa rail No! The hard works are still ahead. The capturing works are more difficult after the density gets lower. Even though an experi- enced staff of the Busters fully works out, it becomes very difficult to capture only a mongoose. However, once we loosen the In these days, the rails were found in many capturing, all efforts we have made would go to waste. Remember that only 17 mongooses first released have spread throughout Okinawa areas and their distribution expanded to the Island. We have to continue the capturing effort until mongooses in Yambaru get to south area of Yambaru. zero in order to restore Yambaru to such forests as native animals live safely. 2016

7 To monitor the population and distribution of Okinawa rails, since 2007, Minis- try of the Environment has been con- ● Trapping efforts is expressed as “trap days” = the number of traps x trap- This result suggests that the mongoose population ducting playback surveys, which sound 4ping days. For instance, if 100 traps are set for two (2) days, “trap days” is is decreasing. the rail’s calls with a speaker, then 200 trap days. count call-back from wild rails respond to the sound. 2009 When first discovered in 1985, Okinawa rails were found in the area between Shioya and Taira. Their distribution area had, however, been smaller toward the 2000 2005 2010 2016 northern area with invasion of mongooses. Trap days：78,576 Trap days：279,896 Trap days：1,303,149 Trap days：1,681,314 Number of captured Number of captured Number of captured Number of captured mongooses:：123 mongooses:：575 mongooses:：230 mongooses:：78 2007 In FY 2007 when the number of captured mongooses reached its peak and exceeded 600, we couldn’t confirm Okinawa rails in the southern part of Yambaru.

Shioya

8 1 As a first step, reduce the 3 density in a zone inhabited by a number of mongooses. 2017 2 In a low density zone where capturing efficiency has reduced, We divided Yambaru area we also concentrically set traps into eight zones, and will Ⅱ in the area where more informa- In order to restore the forest ecosystem in Yambaru eradicate mongooses from tion on mongoose existence has inhabited5 by a number of endemic and threatened the north in order. Ⅰ been gathered from trapping and species, eradicate mongooses from the Shioya-Fukuji Ⅲ 3 sniffer dog’s surveys. line and northward area by FY 2026 and prevent their Ⅳ re-invasion into the area. Ⅴ Verify eradication of mongooses in the zone using concentrate Ⅵ monitoring by sniffer dogs, Ⅶ camera traps and hair traps. １１ Ⅷ 4 2 Continue trapping and monitoring to keep eradicated status 3 in the zone. Using the two Conducting monitoring surveys on fences to block out threatened animals. mongooses Shioya (S) 4 Collaborating with research institutes, we will develop more effective traps, mongoose prevention fences, and monitoring tools. Fukuji Dam (F) Taira (T) 5 A buffer zone for preventing the invasion of mongooses. Apart from "The 3rd Term 6 Mongoose Eradication Action Plan", OPG is conducting its own plan "Action Plan of the mongoose Eradication Project of Okinawa" ,in order to reduce their population and habitat significantly until FY 2026. That Action Plan is conducted in the area between south of Two important points to be registered in the World Natural Heritage are “to exist outstand- ST line to prefectural road 14, ing and universal value” and “to protect its value in the future” . We will continue preparing called as "priority measures region. for registration the fifth world natural heritage in Japan, including measures of mongoose at Yambaru

9 1 As a first step, reduce the 3 density in a zone inhabited by a number of mongooses. 2017 2 In a low density zone where capturing efficiency has reduced, We divided Yambaru area we also concentrically set traps into eight zones, and will Ⅱ in the area where more informa- In order to restore the forest ecosystem in Yambaru eradicate mongooses from tion on mongoose existence has inhabited5 by a number of endemic and threatened the north in order. Ⅰ been gathered from trapping and species, eradicate mongooses from the Shioya-Fukuji Ⅲ 3 sniffer dog’s surveys. line and northward area by FY 2026 and prevent their Ⅳ re-invasion into the area. Ⅴ Verify eradication of mongooses in the zone using concentrate Ⅵ monitoring by sniffer dogs, Ⅶ camera traps and hair traps. １１ Ⅷ 4 2 Continue trapping and monitoring to keep eradicated status 3 in the zone. Using the two Conducting monitoring surveys on fences to block out threatened animals. mongooses Shioya (S) 4 Collaborating with research institutes, we will develop more effective traps, mongoose prevention fences, and monitoring tools. Fukuji Dam (F) Taira (T) 5 A buffer zone for preventing the invasion of mongooses. Apart from "The 3rd Term 6 Mongoose Eradication Action Plan", OPG is conducting its own plan "Action Plan of the mongoose Eradication Project of Okinawa" ,in order to reduce their population and habitat significantly until FY 2026. That Action Plan is conducted in the area between south of Two important points to be registered in the World Natural Heritage are “to exist outstand- ST line to prefectural road 14, ing and universal value” and “to protect its value in the future” . We will continue preparing called as "priority measures region. for registration the fifth world natural heritage in Japan, including measures of mongoose at Yambaru

10 It’s not the mongoose’s fault Do not bring any invasive species into Yambaru

What you can do for Yambaru’s future. It is not just mongooses. Please don’t abandon your pet.