Why the Number of Thunderbirds Has Declined--Distance from Nature Wavering in the Name of Conservation - May 2025
Japanese grouse used to be widely distributed in the alpine zone of central Honshu, but in recent years their numbers have plummeted. The biggest factor is climate change. As a survivor of the Ice Age, this bird can only live in cool environments. However, global warming has caused this environment to recede, and natural enemies such as foxes and crows, which were not originally present, have moved up in altitude and invaded the area. This has significantly reduced the survival rate of eggs and chicks.
Furthermore, the impact of tourism development is also serious. The development of mountain trails and ski resorts has brought more people into the mountains, disturbing their habitat. Grouse are sensitive to the proximity of people, and this interferes with their nesting and foraging behavior. The decline in alpine vegetation has also had a negative impact on the food supply.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of the Environment is attempting to restore the population through artificial insemination, but in May 2025, an accident occurred in which one bird died during the insemination process. The nature of artificial breeding and its ethics are now being questioned. Is "protecting" them with human hands really coexisting with nature? The decline of thunderbirds is an opportunity to rethink the distance between nature and humans.
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