Crested ibis: How the endangered bird is making a comeback in Japan

Japan has reintroduced nine endangered crested ibises into the wild in Ishikawa Prefecture, marking the second release on the main island of Honshu. This move is part of a long-term initiative to repopulate the area and expand the bird's range beyond Sado Island. The crested ibis, or toki in Japan, was once widespread across Japan and East Asia but was driven to extinction in the wild due to overhunting, loss of habitat, and the use of pesticides that reduced its food sources.

The last native crested ibis died in 2003. A China-supported captive-breeding program successfully reintroduced the species, with the first release occurring on Sado Island in 2008. This marked the beginning of a new phase in the bird's recovery, with the population growing to approximately 500 birds. The latest release in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, aims to establish a population outside of Sado Island and restore the ibis to areas where it once thrived.

The conservation effort also focuses on restoring the satoyama landscape, a traditional Japanese rural environment that provides essential resources for the birds. Future plans include another release in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, in 2027.