Eight endangered crested ibises have been released into the wild in Hakui city, Japan, marking a significant conservation milestone decades after the species was declared extinct in the country. The release, from individual wooden cages, was part of a special ceremony attended by Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko in the Noto region.
Successful Captive-Breeding Programme
These ibises are the product of a successful captive-breeding programme on Sado Island, with their comeback catalysed by breeding support from China, which donated a pair in 1999. Known as Toki, the distinctive birds vanished from Japan's Honshu main island in the 1970s due to overhunting and environmental degradation, with the last native Japanese ibis dying in 2003.
Symbol of Hope for Noto Region
The release is viewed as a powerful symbol of hope for the Noto region, which continues its recovery from the devastating 2024 earthquake, and follows a similar reintroduction in South Korea in 2019.
