JAPAN Forward 
A crested ibis in flight carrying a twig to make its nest, photographed in 2023. (©Fumie Oyama)
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On February 14, the Japanese environment ministry announced plans to release crested ibises in the Noto Peninsula area of Ishikawa Prefecture during the first half of fiscal 2026. The crested ibis, a Special Natural Monument of Japan, is an endangered species.
The release is scheduled for early June, a time recommended by experts for higher survival rates. This will be the first time the ibis is released on Honshu, Japan's main island.
A Symbol of Reconstruction
Locals still recovering from the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024 and the heavy rains later that year have welcomed the news. Many see the release as a "symbol of reconstruction." There is growing anticipation to see the ibis soaring over Honshu again after more than 50 years.
Ishikawa Prefecture has made the crested ibis release a key part of its reconstruction plan. The event will also be historically significant, as the last crested ibis in Honshu was captured in the Noto region in 1970. Since then, the prefecture has been working to improve the environment to facilitate the release.
A Collaborative Effort
An expert panel has determined that the rice paddies in the Noto area are ideal for the release, offering an abundance of frogs, snails, and other food sources for the ibis.
According to the environment ministry, the crested ibises to be released will be bred at facilities such as the Sado Crested Ibis Protection Center in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture. Up to 20 birds will be released at a time, with the specific location for release to be determined by July 2025.
Ishikawa Prefecture has established a promotion committee for the release, in collaboration with agricultural cooperatives. Local farmers have worked to improve the environment of rice paddies, making them more hospitable for the ibis' food sources.
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Author: JAPAN Forward
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