Press Release
October 24, 2024
- Nature & Parks
Return of 16 Crested Ibises (Toki) to China
1. 16 crested ibises, which are to be returned to the People's Republic of China pursuant to an agreement between the Japanese and Chinese governments, will be transferred from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) to Beijing, China, on October 31, 2024.
2. A four-member Chinese delegation from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration will visit Japan to sign the return document on October 29, 2024, at the Toki Cultural Exchange Hall in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture.
■ Background
１．According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of the Government of the People's Republic of China, ownership of offspring born from crested ibises provided by China belong as follows:Hua Yang (male) ... Odd-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, even-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
Yishui (female) ... Even-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, odd-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
Lou Lou (male) ... Odd-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, even-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
Guan Guan (female) ... Even-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, odd-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
２．As a result of coordination with the Chinese government, the 16 crested ibises born from Hua Yang, Yishui, Lou Lou, and Guan Guan between 2016 and 2022, of which the Chinese side has ownership, will be returned to China on October 31, 2024 (This is the 8th return, following the return of four crested ibises on March 9, 2016).
３．Prior to the transfer of the crested ibises, the Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center began quarantine of the ibises on October 9, 2024, in order to inspect them for highly pathogenic avian influenza and other infectious diseases.
Yishui (female) ... Even-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, odd-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
Lou Lou (male) ... Odd-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, even-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
Guan Guan (female) ... Even-numbered offspring to the Japanese side, odd-numbered offspring to the Chinese side
２．As a result of coordination with the Chinese government, the 16 crested ibises born from Hua Yang, Yishui, Lou Lou, and Guan Guan between 2016 and 2022, of which the Chinese side has ownership, will be returned to China on October 31, 2024 (This is the 8th return, following the return of four crested ibises on March 9, 2016).
３．Prior to the transfer of the crested ibises, the Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center began quarantine of the ibises on October 9, 2024, in order to inspect them for highly pathogenic avian influenza and other infectious diseases.
■ Schedule for transfer of crested ibises
October 30, 2024
19:30 Departure from Ryotsu Port, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
22:00 Arrival at Niigata Port, Niigata Prefecture
Then move overland to Haneda Airport
October 31, 2024
08:55 Departure from Haneda Airport (Japan time)
12:15 Arrival at Beijing Airport (local time)
19:30 Departure from Ryotsu Port, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
22:00 Arrival at Niigata Port, Niigata Prefecture
Then move overland to Haneda Airport
October 31, 2024
08:55 Departure from Haneda Airport (Japan time)
12:15 Arrival at Beijing Airport (local time)
■ 16 crested ibises to be returned to China
Born in 2016 (1 male)
Born in 2017 (1 female)
Born in 2018 (1 male)
Born in 2019 (2 males and 2 females)
Born in 2020 (3 males and 1 female)
Born in 2021 (4 females)
Born in 2022 (1 female)
Born in 2017 (1 female)
Born in 2018 (1 male)
Born in 2019 (2 males and 2 females)
Born in 2020 (3 males and 1 female)
Born in 2021 (4 females)
Born in 2022 (1 female)
■ Delegation from China
Mr. Zhang Tao, Director, Department of Flora and Fauna, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and 3 others
Note: The number of members may be subject to change.
Note: The number of members may be subject to change.
<Reference>
Return of crested ibises to China to date
1st: March 6, 2002, 2 birds born in 2001
2nd: April 16, 2003, 3 birds born in 2002
3rd: November 20, 2007, 13 birds born in 2003-2007
4th: November 28, 2009, 10 birds born in 2008 and 2009
5th: December 10, 2011, 8 birds born in 2010 and 2011
6th: November 27, 2013, 7 birds born in 2012 and 2013
7th: March 9, 2016, 4 birds born in 2014 and 2015
Attachments
Crested Ibises to be returned (image)
(Attachment 1/4)
601♂ (born in 2016) 647♀ (born in 2017)
696♂ (born in 2018) 723♂ (born in 2019)
(Attachment 2/4)
734♂ (born in 2019) 749♀ (born in 2019)
759♂ (born in 2019) 768♂ (born in 2020)
(Attachment 3/4)
775♂ (born in 2020) 796♀ (born in 2020)
798♂ (born in 2020) 815♀ (born in 2021)
(Attachment 4/4)
821♀ (born in 2021) 830♀ (born in 2021)
841♀ (born in 2021) 874♀ (born in 2022)