Eight crested ibises were released into the wild in a north-central Japanese town on Sunday, marking a significant milestone decades after the birds went extinct in the country. The endangered birds were set free from wooden cages during a ceremony in Hakui city, located in the Noto region, where they were last seen in the wild.
Ceremony and Release
Residents cheered as the birds soared into the sky the moment Crown Prince Akishino, his wife Kiko, and other officials cut a ribbon around the cages. The eight ibises were raised at a conservation center on Sado Island in neighboring Niigata Prefecture, following a successful captive-breeding program. Ten more birds are awaiting release.
Species Background
The white birds, known as Toki in Japan, are native to East Asia and admired for their orange-pink hues under their wings and bright red marks around their eyes. They went extinct on the Honshu main island in the 1970s, threatened by overhunting and environmental degradation. The last remaining Japanese native ibis died in 2003 on Sado Island.
Conservation Success
The birds made a comeback thanks to China's support for breeding. In 1999, artificial breeding using a pair donated from China successfully produced the first Japanese crested ibis chick born in captivity, according to the Environment Ministry. Breeding and conservation efforts have since helped recover the population. In 2008, 10 birds raised at the Sado conservation center were released into the wild on the island, where their population has now increased to around 500.
Symbol of Hope
The release on Sunday was also seen as a good omen for the Noto region, which is still recovering from the deadly 2024 earthquake. The beloved birds represent resilience and the possibility of restoration after devastation.
