In Japan, Okinawa’s unique wildlife at risk of extinction as poaching, smuggling surge
Conservationists urge stronger protections to deter the growing illegal trade and overseas demand for Okinawa’s endemic species
Researchers and conservationists say the growing number of poaching cases points to a mounting ecological crisis and warn that without stronger protections, some of these species could soon disappear altogether.
James Reimer, who has lived in Okinawa for 18 years and is a professor of marine biology at the University of the Ryukyus, says there is no data to indicate whether there has been a decline in coastal organisms in the area.
“But my gut feeling, in terms of what I see when I walk on the beaches here and from what other people tell me, it is definitely getting worse,” he told This Week in Asia.
“There are regularly stories in the local media about people being arrested for collecting large numbers of endemic species. Usually the stories in the papers are about foreigners being caught, but half the time it is locals. But even when it is locals, it is clear that they are to be taken abroad, that the demand is overseas.”
Ryukyu leaf turtles are legally protected and are only found on the main island of Okinawa and two smaller islands.