Basic Policy on the Captive Breeding of Okinawa Rails

The habitation area and population of Okinawa rails endemic to the Yambaru area, the northern part of Okinawa Island, have largely decreased in the last few years because of predation by Javan mongooses and feral cats. Okinawa rails are listed as Critically Endangered in the 2006 Red List of the Ministry of the Environment.

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) developed the "Program for the Rehabilitation of Natural Habitats and Maintenance of Viable Population of Okinawa Rails" in November, 2004, and has conducted projects such as the investigation of the Okinawa rail's habitat and the capture of Javan mongooses and feral cats.

In order to conduct captive breeding of Okinawa rails based on the Program, the MOE developed the Basic Policy on the Captive Breeding of Okinawa Rails.

The MOE plans to experimentally conduct the captive breeding of the wild population beginning this year, and to gather knowledge toward the implementation of the full program next year.

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