Last 2 Canada Geese Caught to Save "Aleutian" Canada Geese from Extinction

Japan is home to numerous migratory wild birds. Aleutian Canada Geese (Branta canadensis leucopareia) is one of them. Aleutian Canada Geese used to migrate from the Kuril Islands to winter in Japan but in the 1930's the total numbers sharply dropped as foxes, their natural check, blew up in population and in the 1970's only a few Aleutian Canada Geese were reported to have flown into Japan

Sendai's Yagiyama Zoological Garden and a private group for the preservation of wild birds sought cooperation from the Russian Academy and released 551 artificially incubated Aleutian Canada Geese over the period 1995-2010 in Ekerma, Kuril. Their efforts paid off as in 2013 some 667 of them were spotted in Miyagi, Niigata's Fukushima Lagoon and other parts of Japan. In December, 2014, 1070 of them were confirmed at Meshonuma, Miyagi.

Now, Canada Goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia) is about 110 centimeters long and categorized as invasive alien species. The birds were brought into Japan for the first time in 1985 for keeps at certain commercial facility. At one time, the birds escaped and propagated in various parts, and by 2010 some 100 of them were found settled in Kanto region hybridizing with indigenous geese and damaging farms.

In 2010 onwards the authorities set out to get rid of Canada Geese to prevent them from hybridizing with indigenous near-extinct Aleutian Canada Geese and what was thought to be the last remaining two were caught at Ushikunuma, Ibaraki, on September 4. Some 79 of them including those caught a Ushikunuma and 150 eggs were sent to Zoos for rearing.

Canada Goose is the first large wild bird designated an invasive alien species and cannot in principle be imported or raised. Commenting on the preservation of Canada Geese, Director Masayuki Kurechi of the Association for Preservation of Japanese Geese says:

"I say our years-long efforts are bearing fruits. We will make sure to ensure proper environment, rice paddy and all, for the birds to winter and ultimately survive extinction for good".