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Crested ibises released in Japanese town decades after extinction in Japan

On May 31, eight crested ibises were released in Hakui, a town in the Noto region, marking their return decades after going extinct in the area. Crown Prince Akishino and Kiko attended the ceremony.
Known as Toki, the birds vanished from Honshu in the 1970s due to overhunting, but recovery efforts succeeded after China donated a breeding pair in 1999, according to the Environment Ministry.
Conservationists released 10 birds on Sado Island in 2008, and the population has since increased to around 500, according to the Environment Ministry. Ten additional birds currently await release.
Residents cheered as the birds took flight, viewing the release as a good omen for the Noto region, which continues recovering from the deadly 2024 earthquake.
Native to East Asia and celebrated for their orange-pink wings, the Toki were raised at a Sado Island conservation center in Niigata prefecture, where breeding efforts continue supporting species recovery.

Insights by Ground AI