社会｜伊豆大島のキョン大量繁殖問題 / Society | The Issue of Overpopulation of Deer on Izu Oshima

Summary

On Izu Oshima, the non-native species known as the “kyon” has been breeding in large numbers, reaching over 20,000 individuals, which is about three times the local population.

The kyon’s distinctive cries are disrupting the residents’ sleep, and they are causing damage by voraciously eating the local specialty, ashitaba. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has begun culling efforts to address this issue, but it is expected to take time to resolve. This situation, coupled with bear-related damage in other areas, highlights the challenges of dealing with wildlife issues.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Log: I heard that there’s a massive breeding of sika deer on Izu Oshima. Apparently, their calls are disturbing the residents’ sleep.
Chako: Really!? Is that actually happening? What kind of animal is a sika deer?
Log: Sika deer are small deer that are classified as a specific invasive species, and they live in places like China.
Navi: Specific invasive species are considered particularly concerning because they can impact the ecosystem.
Chako: I see! But why have they increased so much?
Log: It’s probably because there are no natural predators. When they increase like that, it can negatively affect the environment.

Admin’s Note

I was surprised to learn that the overpopulation of the Japanese brown frog is becoming a social issue on Izu Oshima. In particular, the noise disrupting residents’ sleep and the damage to local specialties are serious problems that directly affect daily life. I hope that the measures being implemented by Tokyo Metropolitan Government to address this issue yield results quickly. Additionally, I believe that better management of invasive species will be necessary in the future. This is a time when the question of how to coexist with nature while accommodating human life is being raised.