Changes in geographical distribution of medium and larger mammals in southern Izu Peninsula, central Honshu, Japan

DOI Web Site 52 References
  • Maruyama Naoki
    Wildlife Conservation Laboratory, Department of Ecoregioen Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo Noko University
  • Yasui Keiko
    Wildlife Conservation Laboratory, Department of Ecoregioen Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo Noko University Present address: Hokkaido Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation
  • Takahashi Eri
    Wildlife Conservation Laboratory, Department of Ecoregioen Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo Noko University

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Other Title
  • 伊豆半島南部における中・大型哺乳類の地理的分布の変遷
  • イズ ハントウ ナンブ ニ オケル チュウ オオガタ ホニュウルイ ノ チリテキ ブンプ ノ ヘンセン

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Description

Changes in geographical distributions of six species of medium and larger mammals in southern Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan, were surveyed in 2003 by interviewing 432 residents and reviewing historic documents. This area (584 km2) is inhabited by 82,397 residents, and over 80% is montane and forested. Archives from the Edo period (prior to 1868) report wild boar (Sus scrofa) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) as nuisances and a bounty was paid for their skins, but only rarely mention grey wolves (Canis lupus), "yamainu or feral dogs" and the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) as nuisances. Interviews and documents indicate that between the Meiji era (starting 1868) and World War II, populations of wild boar, sika deer and Japanese monkeys plummeted, and that grey wolves, Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) were eradicated, probably by heavy hunting. Post-war wild boar numbers increased steadily and nearly saturated the area in the 1990s. Japanese monkeys and sika deer followed the same pattern, inhabiting around 60% of the study area after 2000, resulting in heavy damage to agricultural crops. The recent decline of the local human population and primary industry may be offering these animals favorable conditions to increase.

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