Hybrids of the Japanese giant salamander, a special natural monument of Japan, and an alien species native to China have been found one after another in Hiroshima City, and the city has captured and isolated them because they may disturb the ecosystem.
Since the number of cross-breeding individuals is expected to increase in the future, the city will discuss with the Agency for Cultural Affairs on the 13th how to handle after capture.
“Risk of disturbing the ecosystem” to consult with the Agency for Cultural Affairs
In Hiroshima City, a hybrid individual of the Japanese giant salamander, a special natural monument of Japan, and the alien species native to China, the Chinese giant salamander, was first discovered in May this year in the Hachiman River in Saiki Ward, Hiroshima. individual has been confirmed.
The city, together with Hiroshima University and others, are catching and isolating the hybrids, as the Japanese giant salamanders, which are endemic to Japan, may become extinct if the hybrids continue as they are. You are likely to get more confirmations.
The Japanese giant salamander has a long lifespan of several decades, and there are issues with breeding space and food costs. I am planning to discuss with you.
Hybrid individuals of the Japanese giant salamander and the Chinese giant salamander have also been confirmed in Kyoto and Mie prefectures. It's a matter of debate.
Capturing and isolating hybrid individuals Securing facilities and costs are issues
The Japanese giant salamander has a long lifespan of several decades, and some individuals can grow up to 1 meter in length.
Even if local governments capture and isolate hybrids of the Japanese giant salamander and the Chinese giant salamander in the field, these issues still stand in the way.
In Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, the first hybrid individual was confirmed in 2010, and since 2013, efforts have been made to isolate captured individuals to prevent cross-breeding with the Japanese giant salamander.
The individuals that have been found to be hybrids are kept in a 25-meter pool at an elementary school that has closed, but there are currently more than 150 animals, some of which are as large as 1 meter in length. .
According to Nabari City, for the past 10 years, crossbred individuals have been found in the wild almost every year, so the pool is becoming overcrowded, and it is urgent to secure a new facility.
It also increases the cost of isolation and care.
In addition to spending more than 10,000 yen each time for DNA analysis to check whether it is a hybrid individual, the annual cost of 35 kg of frozen horse mackerel as food, and the water bill for the pool that is replaced twice a month The cost is over 25 million yen, which is covered by the city's budget and national subsidies.
Masaki Yamazaki, chief of the Nabari City Board of Education, who is in charge of breeding, said, "If you find out that it is a hybrid individual, you will keep it until it dies. If you stop this initiative, it will spread to other watersheds and affect the ecosystem. It's not just a problem for Nabari City, it's also a problem for other municipalities, so I want the national and prefectural governments to work on it."
Masaki Yamazaki, chief of the Nabari City Board of Education, who is in charge of breeding, said, "If you find out that it is a hybrid individual, you will keep it until it dies. If you stop this initiative, it will spread to other watersheds and affect the ecosystem. It's not just a problem for Nabari City, it's also a problem for other municipalities, so I want the national and prefectural governments to work on it."