Environment

Tsushima Islander Captures Rare Photo of Endangered Bat Species

An extremely rare sighting and photograph of the endangered Hodgson's bat in Japan has excited experts and drawn attention to the biodiversity of Tsushima.

Published

8 months ago

August 31, 2023

The Sankei Shimbun

Yukihiro Oota's photo of the endangered Hodgson's bat in July in Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture. (Photo courtesy of Yukihiro Oota)

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Tsushima Islander Captures Rare Photo of Endangered Bat Species

Yukihiro Oota, 39, an employee of a nonprofit organization employee living in Tsushima City has succeeded in photographing the Hodgson's bat, an endangered species. Also called the copper-winged bat for its orange color, the animal's only known habitat in Japan is Tsushima Island of Nagasaki Prefecture.

According to experts, spottings of the bat are rare. As the ecology and population of the animal remain largely unknown, experts have praised the photo as a "valuable resource."

A Surprising Encounter

Mr Oota works for the Conservation & Animal Welfare Trust (CAW Trust), a nonprofit that conducts wildlife conservation activities. On the afternoon of July 20, he went into the mountains to prepare for an activity. There, he discovered the bat on a tree branch and snapped a photo from a distance using his smartphone.

"I never expected to see a live one," Oota reported with surprise.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to learn more about this endangered bat species in Japan.

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