Conservation and management of terrestrial mammals in Japan: its system and practices

Abstract

Discussion and Conclusions: The proportion of natural forests was reduced to about 40 % of the total area of forests by 2013. The most influential laws for wildlife conservation and management in Japan are the “Act on the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” and “Wildlife Protection and Proper Hunting Act”. The Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), the Bonin flying fox ( Pteropus pselaphon), a subspecies of Ryukyu flying fox ( Pteropus dasymallus daitoensis), and two subspecies of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis and P. b. euptilurus) are conserved under the “Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”, whereas the conservation of many endemic terrestrial species that are ranked high in conservation status are not implemented in Japanese laws. Recently many management practices have been developed for overabundant populations of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) and the wild boar (Sus scrofa) under “Wildlife Protection and Proper Hunting Act”.