The future of the Rock Ptarmigan〜Existing numbers and efforts to protect them〜

【 New Goal 】

From 2020, the Ministry of the Environment began working toward a new goal. The goal is to restore the number of rock ptarmigan from the current number of approximately 1700 to more than 2500 and avoid the danger of extinction. We are therefore aiming to lower its rank on the Ministry of the Environment’s red list, which is an indicator of its risk of extinction. However, this cannot be achieved without the cooperation of every person who climbs these mountains. When you climb these mountains, think about how the rock ptarmigan feels.

●In cooperation with zoos, ptarmigan are being restored in the central alps.
●In the southern alps, projects to deal with predators continue in an effort to restore bird numbers.
●In the northern alps, a habitat survey is underway for mountains with no recent information.
●At Mt. Hiuchi, a habitat improvement project has been started to remove grassy plants.
※The Ministry of the Environment has formulated a second stage rock ptarmigan preservation and breeding implementation plan to be carried out for 5 years starting in 2020 in a new effort to preserve the rock ptarmigan.

【 Efforts on various mountains 】

Protect its home! Mt. Hiuchi

On Mt. Hiuchi, the northernmost tip of the rock ptarmigan habitat, the overgrowth of grassy plants and spread of forest shrubs are shrinking the environment well-suited for rock ptarmigan habitats in recent years. The four-year experiment to remove grassy plants has shown an improvement in the environment.

The removal area is decided upon and undergoes testing.

Protect it from predators! Southern alps

The cage protection project and predator prevention project taking place on Mt. Kita in the southern alps has quadrupled the number of rock ptarmigan over the course of five years.

A fixed-point observation camera catches a fox.

A predatorial Japanese marten is caught.

Central alps restoration project

A female rock ptarmigan was confirmed in the central alps for the first time in roughly 50 years. This started the Rock Ptarmigan Restoration Project. In 2020, three families totaling 19 birds were relocated from Mt. Norikura.