Seven captive-bred young rock ptarmigans, an endangered bird on Japan’s red list, were released into the wild in an effort to help restore their population.
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Japanese rock ptarmigan chicks released near the summit of Mount Komagatake in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture on September 23. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Environment)

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Captive-Bred Japanese Rock Ptarmigans Released in Nagano's Central Alps

The Ministry of the Environment has announced the release seven endangered Japanese rock ptarmigans into the wild. Designated a protected species, the ptarmigan chicks were set free in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture. The birds were bred in captivity at the Nasu Animal Kingdom in Tochigi Prefecture and Omachi Alpine Museum in Nagano Prefecture.

Hope for the Future

The seven chicks were transported to an area near the summit of Mount Komagatake on September 17. 

Japanese rock ptarmigan chicks released near the summit of Mount Komagatake in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture on September 23. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Environment)

To help them adapt to the local environment, they were initially kept in cages for protection. After being released from the cages, they were observed eating alpine plants nearby.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to read more about how the ptarmigan chicks were released into the wild.

And find more great articles on the environment and the challenges of achieving the SDGs on our affiliated website Japan 2 Earth (J2E), sparking a transition to a sustainable future.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun

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