Southernmost National Park : Iriomotejima Island

If you have no idea what this island is and why it makes a headline in today's episode, you are not to blame. But if I said a rare cat that inhabits in some island in Japan, some of you might clap your hands. That's right - Iriomoteyamaneko. A tongue twister for you.

Iriomote is the name of the island, yama for mountain, neko for a cat. The government of Japan is now turning the whole island of Iriomotejima into a national park just save the cat from extinction. Not really; there certainly are more reasons why, but the cat is a major "cat-phrase" rather catchphrase for the campaign to make island a full-fledged national park.

Here's the whole story:

The Iriomote Ishigaki National Park, as it is to be called, is full of coral, mangroves and every component of subtropical nature. The southernmost national is officially so designated at the end of March. Right now one third of the island is already designated national part.

The idea is to have the whole of the Ryukyu and Amami Islands registered as UNESCO's world natural heritage sites soonest by the year after next. The UNESCO requests the islands' natural assets be well preserved and natural environment protected to give a green light.

So, that's the story behind the cat.

Apart from the cat, strict regulations will prevail to ban gathering/catching/hunting in areas currently 1800 hectares to eventually 4600 hectares. Further, over a half of Iriomotejima is to be designated Class 1 Restricted Area where no building is to be erected.

Mayor Kawamitsu of Taketomi, Iriomote, comments:

"We are delighted to be part of the grand scheme to have our island registered a UNESCO heritage site. Town folks will be glad to cohabit with Iriomoteyamaneko and lead a nature-rich life."