An investigation into the death of Misaki Horse and the measurement of his osseous remains (1) : on the environment of habitat

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Other Title
  • 御崎馬の死亡調査と遺骨の測定(第1報) : 生息地の環境について
  • 生息地の環境について
  • セイソクチ ノ カンキョウ ニ ツイテ

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Abstract

Misaki horse, the Japanese native horse, which has been grazed almost in a savage-like environment for about 270 years in Toimisaki of Miyazaki Prefecture, has been appointed to be a national natural monument since 1953. This horse, which has once amounted to 456 in number is now decreased to about 50. If it is neglected as it is, it will be exterminated before long; and we will lose our precious cultural inheritance. Therefore, as an aid for its preservation, we attempted to clarify the characteristics of this horse by investigating into the recent state of Misaki horse's death and further by measuring its osseous remains.First we made an investigation into the environment of Toimisaki which is closely related with horse's death. As a result, we found the following specifics: 1) Toimisaki is a promontory sticking out towards the Pacific Ocean from the southern tip of Miyazaki Prefecture-4 km in length and 470 ha in area-and is situated around in latitude 31°21′North and longitude 131°20′E. 2) The geographical features of this promontory are the central highland, about 200-300 m high, running from North to South and its slopes, on which more than ten waterfalls are streaming and providing drink for horses. 3) The average temperature of this promontory for the past 13 years is 16. 7℃; precipitation is 2,103.9 mm; and humility is 77.1%. Compared to Matsumoto, Tokyo and Sappro, temperature, precipitation, and humility are relatively higher. 4) Pasture land in Toimisaki is composed of 50.27 % of needleleaf trees, 32.83 % of coppice, 6.93 % of the grass and 9.97 % of the wasteland; and the area of the grass is mostly ristricted to the central highland of the promontory. More than half a year, horses live in this central highland; on winter they live on the grass and leaves in the forest. 5) The number of tourists visiting Toimisaki has amounted to 500,000 in 1971; accordingly, increased roads and buildings are exerting bad influences on the life of horses. 6) As facilities for horses, there are 15 water-supply areas and 6 horse-keeping-back gates, besides the fence roughly made to prevent horses from running away. 7) The relationship between these natural and man-made environments and the life of horses was investigated, and its reform measre was discussed.

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