DOCSLIB.ORG

Small Indian Mongoose – Management and Eradication Using DOC 250 Kill Traps, First Lessons from Hawaii

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Small Indian Mongoose – Management and Eradication Using DOC 250 Kill Traps, First Lessons from Hawaii Peters, D.; L. Wilson, S Mosher, J. Rohrer, J. Hanley, A. Nadig, M. Silbernagle, M. Nishimoto, and J. Jeffrey. Small Indian mongoose – management and eradication using DOC 250 kill traps, first lessons from Hawaii Small Indian mongoose – management and eradication using DOC 250 kill traps, first lessons from Hawaii D. Peters1, L. Wilson2, S Mosher3, J. Rohrer3, J. Hanley4, A. Nadig5, M. Silbernagle4,M. Nishimoto6, and J. Jeffrey7 1Department of Conservation, P.O Box 10420, Wellington, New Zealand. <[email protected]>. 2Department of Conservation, P.O Box 29, Te Anau, New Zealand. 3Oahu Army Natural Resource Programme, Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. 4US Fish and Wildlife Service, Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. 5US Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA 6US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kealia Pond, Maui, Hawaii, USA. 7Ponopono Road, Hamakua Coast, Hilo, Hawaii Is., Hawaii, USA. Abstract Human introduction of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) has had a catastrophic impact on native fauna of many islands around the world. In Hawaii, the most common method of mongoose control is by using live-traps, followed by euthanasia either by shooting or carbon dioxide poisoning after capture. This is a labour-intensive process, especially as live-traps must be checked every day to comply with humane requirements. The DOC 250 trap was trialled on two Hawaiian islands to test its feasibility as a humane kill-trap for use in mongoose control. The DOC 250 trap was effective in humanely killing mongooses. The DOC 250 trap was also effective in trapping mongooses in a landscape setting. In combination with best-practice wooden trap boxes, the DOC 250 caught more mongooses than live-traps, which were made of wire mesh. The DOC 250 traps should be used in future mongoose control operations in Hawaii as a humane and cost-effective alternative to live-trapping. This trial was a collaborative initiative between the New Zealand Department of Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Haleiwa (Oahu, Hawaii), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu (Oahu, Hawaii), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kealia Pond (Maui, Hawaii) and the Oahu Army Natural Resource Program, Schofield Barracks (Oahu, Hawaii), USA. Keywords: Herpestes auropunctatus, invasive predator, humane control, NAWAC, island conservation INTRODUCTION The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) METHODS is a catastrophic invasive predator of the West Indies, Hawaiian Islands, South America, Fiji, Mafia Island and A collaborative programme to test the DOC 250 island habitats of Africa, Asia and Europe (Long 2003; traps was set up between the New Zealand Department Warren and Conant 2007). They impact upon and cause of Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Haleiwa the extinction of many species of birds, mammals, and (Oahu, Hawaii), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu insects (Warren and Conant 2007). (Oahu, Hawaii), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kealia Pond (Maui, Hawaii) and the Oahu Army Natural Resource To date in Hawaii, the most common control method Program, Schofield Barracks (Oahu, Hawaii), USA. for mongoose is cage live trapping. This method requires skilled and intensive labour as traps must be checked daily DOC 250 kill traps were set in current best practice and captured animals either dispatched on site with firearms wooden trap boxes (Fig. 1) in the initial humane test and at or offsite in carbon dioxide chambers. These labour each of the three sites where field trials were undertaken. intensive methods impact upon management decisions particularly regarding the size and scope of control projects. Less labour reliant and more cost effective tools are needed to enable control or eradication of mongooses over larger areas, such as on islands and in large mainland reserves. The DOC 250 kill trap has passed National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) humane guidelines for use against mustelids in New Zealand (Poutu and Warburton 2005). These traps are always set in trap boxes and are triggered by the weight of an animal stepping onto a treadle. It has been developed for use with four pest species in New Zealand, including the ferret (Mustela furo), which is comparable in size and behaviour to the mongoose. Given similarities between small Indian mongooses and ferrets, DOC 250 traps should show equivalent humane efficacy for both species. A preliminary controlled test was therefore organised in 2007, to determine whether the DOC 250 kill trap could conform to NAWAC requirements and render small Indian mongoose irreversibly unconscious within three minutes of being caught. This paper presents the outcome of the preliminary humane test and results from three subsequent, small- scale field trials that used DOC 250 kill traps to target and Fig. 1 DOC 250 kill trap being set in a current best practise successfully kill small Indian mongoose in Hawaii. trap box designed to catch small Indian mongoose. Pages 225-227 In: Veitch, C. R.; Clout, M. N. and Towns, D. R. (eds.). 2011. Island invasives: eradication and management. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 225 Island invasives: eradication and management Table 2 Results from Trial 2, DOC 250 kill traps Date Traps checked Captures Sat 16 May 2009 yes 1 Sun 17 May 2009 no Mon 18 May 2009 yes 6 Total 7 Trial 1: Jack Jeffrey’s property – Hilo, Hawaii Island Six Doc 250 trap sets were placed 20 - 50 metres apart in rough grassland surrounded by wooded farmland and tree plantings. Each trap was baited with tinned sardines and activated for two nights from 02 - 04 April 2007. Trial 2: James Campbell/Ki’i Wildlife Refuge – Oahu Fig. 2 DOC 250 kill trap baited with sardines. The small Island Indian mongoose has been humanely killed. Fourteen DOC 250 trap sets were spaced 50 - 70 metres apart along access ways within the 45 hectare refuge, composed of wetland with introduced grasses. Traps were baited with tinned sardines on 16 - 18 May and checked Each trap box was baited with tinned sardine or cat twice during the three night trapping period. crunchies (commercially available cat food in the form Trial 3: Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge – Maui of cereal based pellets) and all traps were checked and Island serviced after between one and three days at all sites. Twelve trap sites, comprising a paired arrangement The objectives of this trial were to determine whether of a standard Doc 250 trap-set placed 1 - 3 metres from DOC 250 traps are: 1) capable of humanely killing small a Tomahawk live cage trap, were established at 20 – 50 Indian mongoose; 2) capable og trapping mongooses in metre intervals, over an area of marshland and introduced the wild; and 3) more effective than Tomahawk live-traps grasses. All traps were baited with cat crunchies placed in in controlling mongoose numbers in the wild. NAWAC a bait jar with wire mesh lid. This paired trap trial ran for guidelines were used as the humane standards for this a period of four months from 14 June to 17 October 2009, trial, as there was a clear mandate to do so from the two with trap checks and servicing being undertaken every day. governments involved. In this trial, the Tomahawk traps were checked every day, Preliminary Humane Test: James Campbell/Ki’i in accordance with NAWAC humane guidelines. The DOC Wildlife Refuge, Oahu Island. 250 traps may be checked less often, as these humane kill- Two captive small Indian mongoose were trapped traps comply with NAWAC guidelines, regardless of time under controlled conditions in a DOC 250 kill trap set in between trap-checks. the marsh/ introduced grass area of James Campbell/Ki’i Wildlife Refuge on 26 March 2007. Both animals were immediately rendered irreversibly unconscious. This was determined by measuring the palpebral reflex, and time Table 3 Results from Trial 3, DOC 250 and Tomahawk cage to heart-stop, from the moment of trapping. The cause of trap, paired trial. death in both cases was multiple skull fractures (Fig. 2). This result confirmed the hypothesis that DOC 250 kill Session Date DOC 250 Cage trap traps would humanely dispatch Small Indian mongoose 1 14 – 20 June 2009 0 0 within the NAWAC guidelines and provided the confidence 2 21 – 27 June 2009 0 0 for field trials to proceed. 3 28 June – 4 July 2009 1 1 4 5 – 11 July 2009 4 0 5 12 – 18 July 2009 0 1 6 19 – 25 July 2009 0 2 Table 1 Results from Trial 1, DOC 250 kill traps, on the 7 26 July – 1 Aug 2009 0 0 Jeffrey property, Hilo 8 2 – 8 Aug 2009 3 0 Mongoose Date Sex Age class 9 9 -15 Aug 2009 0 0 1 02/04/07 Male Adult 10 16 – 22 Aug 2009 1 0 2 02/04/07 Female Adult 11 23 – 29 Aug 2009 0 0 3 02/04/07 Female Adult 12 30 Aug – 5 Sept 2009 0 0 4 02/04/07 Female Adult 13 6 – 12 Sept 2009 1 0 5 02/04/07 unknown unknown 14 13 – 19 Sept 2009 0 0 8 03/04/07 Male Adult 15 20 – 26 Sept 2009 3 0 9 03/04/07 Male Adult 16 27 Sept – 3 Oct 2009 1 0 10 03/04/07 Female Adult 17 4 – 10 Oct 2009 0 0 11 03/04/07 Male Adult 18 11 – 17 Oct 2009 0 0 12 04/04/07 Male Adult Total 15 4 226 Peters et al.: Small Indian mongoose trapping RESULTS CONCLUSION Trial 1: Jack Jeffrey’s property – Hilo, Hawaii Island This study confirms that DOC 250 traps in protective One trap malfunctioned and has been discounted. boxes provide a new and more efficient tool for the Results are based on five operative traps set for two nights.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ecology of the Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) in North America
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Publications Plant Health Inspection Service 2018 Ecology of the Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in North America Are R. Berentsen USDA National Wildlife Research Center, [email protected] William C. Pitt Smithsonian Institute Robert T. Sugihara USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc Part of the Life Sciences Commons Berentsen, Are R.; Pitt, William C.; and Sugihara, Robert T., "Ecology of the Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in North America" (2018). USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications. 2034. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/2034 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Government Publication Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services Ecology of the Small 12 Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in North America Are R. Berentsen, William C. Pitt, and Robert T. Sugihara CONTENTS General Ecology and Distribution.........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Herpetological Journal FULL PAPER
    Volume 27 (April 2017), 201–216 Herpetological Journal FULL PAPER Published by the British Predation of Jamaican rock iguana Cyclura( collei) nests Herpetological Society by the invasive small Asian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) and the conservation value of predator control Rick van Veen & Byron S. Wilson Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona 7, Kingston, Jamaica The introduced small Asian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) has been widely implicated in extirpations and extinctions of island taxa. Recent studies and anecdotal observations suggest that the nests of terrestrial island species are particularly vulnerable to mongoose predation, yet quantitative data have remained scarce, even for species long assumed to be at risk from the mongoose. We monitored nests of the Critically Endangered Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei) to determine nest fate, and augmented these observations with motion-activated camera trap images to document the predatory behaviour of the mongoose. Our data provide direct, quantitative evidence of high nest predation pressure attributable to the mongoose, and together with reported high rates of predation on hatchling and juvenile iguanas (also by the mongoose), support the original conclusion that the mongoose was responsible for the apparent lack of recruitment and the aging structure of the small population that was ‘re-discovered’ in 1990. Encouragingly however, our data also demonstrate a significant reduction in nest predation pressure within an experimental mongoose-removal area. Thus, our results indicate that otherwise catastrophic levels of nest loss (at or near 100%) can be ameliorated or even eliminated by removal trapping of the mongoose. We suggest that such targeted control efforts could also prove useful in safeguarding other threatened insular species with reproductive strategies that are notably vulnerable to mongoose predation (e.g., the incubation of eggs on or underground).
    [Show full text]
  • Herpestes Auropunctatus (Small Indian Mongoose)
    UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour Herpestes auropunctatus (Small Indian Mongoose) Family: Herpestidae (Mongooses) Order: Carnivora (Carnivores) Class: Mammalia (Mammals) Fig. 1. Small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus. [http://kiwifoto.com/galleries/mammals/small_indian_mongoose/, downloaded 21 September 2012] TRAITS. Herpestes auropunctatus (formerly known as H. javanicus) is native to south Asia and has been introduced to Trinidad and Tobago (and other Caribbean islands) for control of rats and snakes. This animal is small and slender with short legs (Fig. 1). Its head is elongated with a pointed muzzle and small ears (Csurhes & Fisher 2010). The mongoose’s tail is muscular at the bottom and tapers gradually throughout its length, it also possess five toes that contains retractable claws. Its body length is between 50-67 cm for females and 54-67 cm for males. Its weight ranges from 305-662 grams. Their bodies are covered with short hair that is coloured pale to dark brown with golden flecks (Csurhes & Fisher 2010). Both males and females have an extensible anal pad with glands that are ducted lateral to the anus. ECOLOGY. Its habitat range is the largest in the family Herpestidae. It can thrive in a large range of habitats inclusive of agricultural land, coastal areas, natural forests, planted forests, grassland, wetland areas. However, climatically it is best able to survive in tropical zones (Csurhes & Fisher 2010). Carnivorous, with a varied and opportunistic diet, this diet is dependent on the habitat it is in and the food availability. This diet includes small mammals, UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour birds, reptiles, invertebrates and plant matter.
    [Show full text]
  • The Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes Auropuncatus in The
    The Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropuncatus (Hodgson 1836)in the Balkans A synopsis of it’s introduction and recent information. David Bird Background 1.The Area • The Mediterranean basin to which the Balkans and the Adriatic sea belong is regarded as a one of the biodiversity hotspots especially where Reptiles and Amphibians are concerned (Myers,N.et.al 2000) with several endemic species and subspecies so should be a conservation priority for Europe. The Balkans is not only important for herpetofauna but for many other taxa and has a book dedicated to it (Griffiths,H.I et al. 2004). Chapter 10 of the book concerns the herpetofauna giving details of the number of endemic species for specific areas (Džukić & Kalezić 2004) the so called “Adriatic triangle” which covers Montenegro and adjacent Albania & Croatia having 10 endemic species. A recent checklist and bibliography has been produced for Croatia (Jelić 2014). Any invasive alien predator becoming widespread in this region may have dire consequences for its herpetological biodiversity . 2. The Problem itself • The Small Indian Mongoose has been successfully introduced into many areas around the World especially on islands for biological control of pest and unwanted species especially snakes but is now considered to be one of the worst invasive animals appearing on the I.U.C.N.’s worst 100 invasive species list ( I.U.C.N. 2000). Island species with no experience of predatory mammals have been badly affected with some species of herpetofauna having become extinct (Honneger,R.E. 1981). At least 64 islands around the World have this mongoose on them and they have been eradicated from 6 islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Flavor Preference of Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits by Small Indian Mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus) in Southwestern Puerto Rico
    Flavor Preference of Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits by Small Indian Mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) in Southwestern Puerto Rico Are R. Berentsen and Fabiola B. Torres-Toledo USDA APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado Mel J. Rivera-Rodriguez USDA APHIS, Wildlife Services, Auburn, Alabama Amy J. Davis, and Amy T. Gilbert USDA APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado ABSTRACT: The small Indian mongoose is an invasive pest species and rabies reservoir in Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean. In the United States and Europe, rabies in wild carnivores is largely controlled through oral rabies vaccination (ORV), but no ORV program for mongooses exists. The oral rabies vaccine currently licensed for use in wild carnivores in the United States has not been reported as immunogenic for mongooses. A mongoose-specific bait has been developed but field-based bait flavor preference trials have not been performed in Puerto Rico. We evaluated removal of egg-flavored (treatment) vs. unflavored (control), water- filled placebo ORV baits in a subtropical dry forest in southwestern Puerto Rico from 2014-2015. During six trials at four plots we distributed 350 baits (175 treatment and 175 control) and monitored baits for five days or until at least 50% of baits had been removed or were rendered unavailable to mongooses due to inundation by fire ants. The estimated overall probability of bait removal within five days was 85% (95% CI 75-91%) and 45% (95% CI 35-55%) for treatment and control baits, respectively. Removal rate estimates in the spring were 95% (95% CI 86-98%) and 63% (95% CI 49-76%) for treatment and control baits, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 1. a Worldwide
    Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 1. A Worldwide Review of Effects of the Small Indian Mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Carnivora: Herpestidae)1 Warren S. T. Hays2 and Sheila Conant3 Abstract: The small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy Saint- Hilaire, 1818), was intentionally introduced to at least 45 islands (including 8 in the Pacific) and one continental mainland between 1872 and 1979. This small carnivore is now found on the mainland or islands of Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. In this review we document the impact of this species on native birds, mammals, and herpetofauna in these areas of introduction. The small Indian mongoose has been 1), typically has an adult body mass in the introduced to numerous islands, including range of 300 to 900 g and a body length eight in the Pacific. Beyond its native range from 500 to 650 mm (Nellis 1989). It has in southern Asia, this species now occurs on the slender body shape typical of the herpes- islands or mainlands elsewhere in Asia, Africa, tid family, with short legs, short brown fur, Europe, North America, South America, and and a tail that makes up roughly 40% of the Oceania. Its negative effects on native biota animal’s total length. Dentition is 3:1:4:2, of these areas are a concern to natural-area with a wide carnassial shear region. Females managers. have 36 chromosomes and males have 35, because the Y chromosome has translocated name onto an autosome (Fredga 1965). A more complete species description may Herpestes javanicus (E.
    [Show full text]
  • Negative Impact of an Invasive Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes
    117 Negative Impact of an Invasive Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus on Native Wildlife Species and Evaluation of a Control Project in Amami-Ohshima and Okinawa Islands, Japan 1 2 Fumio YAMADA * and Ken SUGIMURA 1Department of Wildlife Biology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), PO Box 16, Tsukuba-Norin, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan e-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Forest of Management, FFPRI, PO Box 16, Tsukuba-Norin, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan *corresponding author Abstract The small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Family Herpestidae, Order Carnivora, Mammalia), is one of the most urgent species to eradicate among invasive mammals in Japan. Recently, the Japanese government has begun full-scale control of the mongoose as a model case for conserving the biodiversity of Japan’s subtropical islands. We review and assess the impacts of the mongoose and control practices on Amami-Ohshima Island and Okinawa Island based on recently acquired information. On Amami-Ohshima Island, a total of 9,960 mongooses were captured under the full-scale project of the Ministry of the Environment which ran for four years from 1999 to October 2003. According to the April 2002 mongoose census taken after three years of full-scale implementation, the population was estimated to be 1/4 (1,500-2,000 mongooses) less than in 1999. However, our investigation revealed that the remaining mongooses in the mountain- ous area are having negative impacts on native species, especially on the Amami rabbit, Pentalagus furnessi. People who are involved with the full-scale mongoose project should recognize that the investment in the project, at least regarding the number of traps and trapping period, is incredibly low at this stage and funding should be increased to achieve the goal.
    [Show full text]
  • Cfreptiles & Amphibians
    HTTPS://JOURNALS.KU.EDU/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSTABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANSREPTILES • VOL & AMPHIBIANS15, NO 4 • DEC 2008 • 28(2):189 213–217 • AUG 2021 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS FromFEATURE ARTICLES Pets to Threats: Invasive Iguanas . Chasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin: and OtherOn the Road to Understanding Species the Ecology and Conservation Cause of the Midwest’s SignificantGiant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer Harm 190 . The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: A Hypothetical Excursion ............................................................................................................................to Native Iguanas Robert W. Henderson 198 RESEARCH ARTICLES Gad. The TexasPerry Horned1, Charles Lizard inR. Central Knapp and2,3 Western, Tandora Texas ....................... D. Grant Emily3,4, Stesha Henry, Jason A. PasachnikBrewer, Krista 3,5Mougey,, and and Ioana Gad Perry Coman 204 6 . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida 1 Department of Natural ............................................. Resource Management,Brian J. Texas Camposano, Tech KennethUniversity, L. Krysko, Lubbock, Kevin M.Texas Enge, 79409, Ellen M. USA Donlan, ([email protected] and Michael Granatosky [corresponding 212 author]). 2Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA ([email protected]) CONSERVATION ALERT3IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist
    [Show full text]
  • Check List Lists of Species Check List 12(3): 1892, 3 June 2016 Doi: ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors
    12 3 1892 the journal of biodiversity data 3 June 2016 Check List LISTS OF SPECIES Check List 12(3): 1892, 3 June 2016 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.3.1892 ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors Mammalian fauna of Rajaji National Park, India: a review on ecological observations and checklist Ritesh Joshi Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Conservation and Survey Division, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi – 110 003, India E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Rajaji National Park, in the Gangetic Plains Schedule I, which are considered nationally threatened biogeographic zone, has a diverse and biogeographically (Anonymous 2003). important mammalian assemblage. In the recent past, The state of Uttarakhand is located in northern India several studies on the herbivores, large carnivores and and has 34,651 km2 of forests, which constitute 64.79% mega-herbivores have been carried out, but limited work of the state’s geographical area. Protected forests has been done on the distribution of mammals in the constitute 28.52% of the total forested area (Forest park. This study illustrates the ecological observations Survey of India 2011). Most of the state is in Himalayan and review of the mammals of the Rajaji National Park, biogeographic zone and the West Himalayan province based on field surveys, carried out during 2006–2008, is a stronghold for nearly 23% (93 species) of Indian using direct and indirect sampling methods. A total of mammals. However, information on the mammals of 44 mammal species, belonging to nine orders and 20 Uttarakhand is very scarce and scattered in published families were recorded, which included one insectivore, and unpublished sources, including the working plans six chiropterans, two primates, one pholidotan, 16 of the State Forest Departments, environmental impact carnivores, one proboscidean, six artiodactylians, one assessment reports and scientific tour reports (Sati and lagomorph and 10 rodents.
    [Show full text]
  • Eradication Project of Invasive Alien Mongooses on Amami-Oshima
    Eradication project of invasive alien mongooses in Japan - Okinawa and Amami-oshima Island- Office for Alien Species Management, Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the environment Masato Morikawa 1 Ryukyu Archipelago - one of biodiversity hot spots of the world Tokyo Amami-oshima Island (712 km2) Population: 70,000 Kagoshima Amami-oshima Okinawa Okinawa Island (1,208 km2) Taiwan Population: 1,200,000 2 Ryukyu Archipelago - one of biodiversity hot spots of the world • Biogeographically, border of Palearctic and Oriental region. • Isolated from the continent about 2 - 1.7 million years ago. c.f. Mainland Japan : isolated about 10 000 – 20 000 years ago. • Many endemic species inhabit with limited predator species Korea Kyusyu Watase line Taiwan Islands of poisonous snake, habu 3 Native wildlife in the Ryukyus evolved in the absence of predatory mammals Amami-group Amami-oshima Is. Tokunoshima Is. Iriomote cat Amami rabbit (Prionailurus bengalensis (Pentalagus furnessi) iriomotensis) Okinawa-group Crested Serpent Eagle Amami woodcock (Spilornis cheela perplexus) Okinawa Is. (Scolopax mira) Yaeyama-group Miyako-group Miyako Is. Ishigaki Is. Iriomote Is. Yambaru long-armed Amami thrush Okinawa woodpecker Okinawa rail scarab beetle (Zoothera dauma major) (Dendrocopos noguchii) (Gallirallus okinawae) (Cheirotonus jambar) 4 Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) • A small, slim-bodied predator native to areas from Iran, through India to Myanmar, VietNam. Small Indian mongoose • It has been introduced to many islands to control rats, particularly in sugar cane fields of tropics. • The mongoose has had a major impact on native species in the areas where it has been introduced. 5 100 of the worst invasive alien species by ISSG, IUCN More than 70 islands/areas introduced (Hays & Conant, 2007) 6 1910: First introduction to Japan (300km2) • Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Rediscovery After Thirty Years Since the Last Capture of the Critically Endangered Okinawa Spiny Rat Tokudaia Muenninki Title in the Northern Part of Okinawa Island
    Rediscovery after thirty years since the last capture of the critically endangered Okinawa spiny rat Tokudaia muenninki Title in the northern part of Okinawa Island Yamada, Fumio; Kawauchi, Norihiro; Nakata, Katsushi; Abe, Shintaro; Kotaka, Nobuhiko; Takashima, Atsushi; Author(s) Murata, Chie; Kuroiwa, Asato Mammal Study, 35(4), 243-255 Citation https://doi.org/10.3106/041.035.0404 Issue Date 2010-12 Doc URL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/47531 Type article File Information MS35-4_243-255.pdf Instructions for use Hokkaido University Collection of Scholarly and Academic Papers : HUSCAP Mammal Study 35: 243–255 (2010) © the Mammalogical Society of Japan Rediscovery after thirty years since the last capture of the critically endangered Okinawa spiny rat Tokudaia muenninki in the northern part of Okinawa Island Fumio Yamada1,*, Norihiro Kawauchi2,**, Katsushi Nakata3, Shintaro Abe4, Nobuhiko Kotaka5, Atsushi Takashima6, Chie Murata7 and Asato Kuroiwa7,8 1 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan 2 Island Ecology Institute, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2206, Japan 3 Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Kunigami, Okinawa 905-1413, Japan 4 Naha Nature Conservation Office, Ministry of the Environment, Naha, Okinawa 900-0027, Japan 5 Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Kumamoto, Kumamoto 860-0862, Japan 6 Yona Field, Subtropical Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Kunigami, Okinawa 905-1427, Japan 7 Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan 8 Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan Abstract. The Okinawa spiny rat, Tokudaia muenninki, is a critically endangered species endemic to the northern part of Okinawa Island and may be extinct in the wild as there have been no recent sightings of the animal in its natural habitat.
    [Show full text]
  • Prevalence of Serum Antibodies to Toxoplasma Gondii in the Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes Auropunctatus) on Amami- Oshima Island, Japan RUNNING HEAD: T
    Advance Publication The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Accepted Date: 16 December 2019 J-STAGE Advance Published Date: 25 December 2019 ©2019 The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science Author manuscripts have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication but have not yet been edited. Wildlife Science Note TITLE: Prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) on Amami- Oshima Island, Japan RUNNING HEAD: T. GONDII IN SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE AUTHOR: Keiko ITO1), Shintaro ABE2), Ryo YAMASHITA3), Daisuke SUMIYAMA4), Tomoko KANAZAWA4) and Koichi MURATA4, 5) * 1) Amami Dog & Cat Animal Hospital, Nakagachi, Tatsugocho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima 894-0106, Japan 2) Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Environment Office, Ministry of the Environment, 1-4-1 Shimoishii, Kita, Okayama, Okayama 700-0907, Japan 3) Japan Wildlife Research Center, 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan 4) College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan 5) Yokohama Zoological Gardens ZOORASIA, 1175-1 Kamishiranecho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-0001, Japan *Correspondence to: Murata, K., College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan, FAX: 0466-84-3776, e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasm gondii was studied using the latex agglutination (LA) method, followed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation (SDGC) method on the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), which inhabits Amami- Oshima Island. Of the 362 samples, 38 (10.5%) revealed positive. Single or double peaks in the 7-8 and/or 12-14 fraction to LA titer by SDGC indicated the early stage of T.
    [Show full text]