August 23, 2007 Rare Japanese Dugong Threatened by U.S. Military

August 23, 2007

Rare Japanese Dugong Threatened by U.S. Military Base

John Roach Specifically, conservationists “Okinawa is a fascinating place, for National Geographic News hope that the move will back up and the dugong is revered there,” legal action already underway Galvin said. The rare Okinawa dugong has to halt the expansion of a U.S. been classified as “critically military base on the island of Historic dugong population endangered” on Japan’s Ministry Okinawa into prime dugong numbers are difficult to come of the Environment Red List, habitat. by. But based on the ubiquitous the Japanese equivalent to the presence of the animals in U.S. government’s endangered “This listing is a significant Okinawan lore, wildlife groups species list, officials announced action,” said Peter Galvin, estimate that thousands—if not this month. conservation director for the tens of thousands—swam near Center for Biological Diversity the island about 300 years ago. About 100,000 dugongs— in Shelter Cove, California. relatives of the manatees—live Like their manatee cousins, the in the coastal waters of the South “The dugong is already listed as gentle giants forage on sea grass, Pacific and Indian oceans. a protected cultural monument growing up to 10 feet (3 meters) in Japan and has been known to long and packing on more than be critically endangered for quite 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). some time,” Galvin said. While large sharks and saltwater “But [until now] the Japanese crocodiles have been known government had not actually to prey on dugongs, cases of officially placed it on the list.” predation are rare, making humans the most likely culprits Military Threat in the dugong decline.

Okinawa is the largest of the For decades the animals have The Okinawa dugong is the Ryukyu Islands, an archipelago been tangled in fishing nets, northernmost population, and that stretches from Japan’s have had their habitat filled in for scientists believe only about 50 southern island of Kyushu to development projects, and have remain. Taiwan (see map). seen their food disappear under silt-filled runoff from eroded Dugongs play a central role Environmental groups say the soils, conservationists say. dugong’s addition to the Red List in the culture and mythology is long overdue and expressed of Okinawa, Galvin said. The As part of their efforts to protect hope that the new designation animals are associated with the dugong, the Center for will come with stronger actions creation and mermaid myths Biological Diversity has been to protect the marine mammals. and are considered harbingers leading a lawsuit against the U.S. of natural disasters such as Department of Defense. tsunamis. The U.S. military has maintained as saying the listing is meant a strong presence in Okinawa simply to inform the public that since World War II, with more dugongs are at risk. than 30,000 personnel currently stationed on the island. The agency does not plan to restrict activities at dugong The lawsuit addresses a planned feeding grounds as part of the relocation of the Marine Corps’ new classification, she said. Futenma Airbase, which sits in a densely populated site, to a more isolated stretch of shoreline in Camp Schwab, according to the U.S. military.

But the project requires expanding runways into a bay that “is the richest area of sea grass in Okinawa,” Galvin said. “It’s the best of the last habitat for the dugong.”

Moving Ahead

Marine Corps spokesperson Garron Garn in Okinawa said via email that the expansion project is designed to meet the military unit’s operational needs.

The “exact location of the airfield was determined by higher authorities in the U.S. and Japanese governments,” he said, and declined further comment.

A followup request for information from the U.S. Forces Japan public affairs office remained unanswered at press time.

In an August 15 article in the military newspaper the Stars and Stripes, Japanese and U.S. officials said that the dugong listing isn’t expected to delay the planned construction.

The newspaper also quoted Ministry of the Environment spokesperson Harumi Nakajima