Your current location:HOME >world >VOX POPULI: Rooting for the Sendai killifish that survived the 2011 tsunami 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 21:24:42 Source: Internet compilationEdit:world
In February 1999, the Environment Agency (the present-day Environment Ministry) shocked the nation b
In February 1999, the Environment Agency (the present-day Environment Ministry) shocked the nation by designating the all-too-familiar “medaka” killifish as an endangered species.
That was exactly a quarter-century ago. Has the medaka population grown or declined since then?
“Unfortunately, the medaka’s risk of extinction is growing,” said ichthyologist Arimune Munakata, 51, an associate professor at the Miyagi University of Education. “Although preservation measures have proven successful in some regions, many of their habitats have been lost.”
He continued, “If we provisionally set the medaka population at the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867) at 100, the population today has been reduced to less than 10 due to pesticides and invasive foreign species.”
Munakata has been working to revive schools of wild medaka that carry genes unique to natives of the Sendai area.
They were believed to have been driven to extinction by the tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.
But it so happened that the year before the quake, researchers at Munakata’s university had collected 20 to 30 medaka near the Ido district of Sendai’s Wakabayashi Ward and were raising them in the university’s research pond.
Munakata named these fish “Ido Medaka” after the district they came from. And when he sought volunteer breeders, individuals as well as schools and corporate groups positively responded.
These medaka are black. Munakata held lectures and workshops at a local zoo to ensure that the fish were not cross-bred with red and yellow pet medaka.
“Thankfully, the Ido Medaka population has now grown to the tens of thousands,” Munakata beamed. “They are a symbol of (Sendai’s) recovery from the disaster.”
After my interview with him at his university, I headed by car to Wakabayashi Ward, where many residents perished in the tsunami.
In a pond installed at the former site of an elementary school, the medaka were swimming freely and vigorously. Every individual was beautifully black.
As I watched them, my thoughts turned to animals and plants unique to the Noto Peninsula that must have been washed away by the tsunami triggered by the earthquake on New Year’s Day.
Are there rare species that are now on the verge of extinction? With water service disruptions and power blackouts still plaguing survivors of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, I know there is nothing that can be done yet.
But I pray, at least, that when life returns to normal, people’s attention will turn to the revival of those small endangered lives.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 13
(This article was carried only in extra online editions for the newspaper holidays)
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car2024-05-21 21:24
Panthers have many needs entering NFL draft, but no first2024-05-21 21:06
Saints enter the NFL draft with questions along the offensive line2024-05-21 20:46
The Chicago Bears are poised to draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft2024-05-21 20:41
Tom Brady and Jay2024-05-21 20:36
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán suspended for 11 games, fined for pointing laser at rival in Liga MX match2024-05-21 20:16
Packers could still look to upgrade secondary in NFL draft even after adding Xavier McKinney2024-05-21 20:02
With QB Cousins joining strong foundation on offense, Falcons may target edge rusher in NFL draft2024-05-21 19:30
Cannes 2024: Studio Ghibli takes a bow with an honorary Palme d'Or2024-05-21 19:23
Kourtney Kardashian is 45! The reality TV star and wife of Travis Barker gets heart2024-05-21 18:45
Sophie Morgan suddenly quits ITV show Loose Women as she reveals plans for emigration2024-05-21 21:09
Nebraska lawmakers end session, leaving taxes for later2024-05-21 21:07
Philadelphia Eagles want draft picks to play well, do the right thing and retire with the franchise2024-05-21 20:36
Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya both wowed in Euphoria, so why are they treated so differently?2024-05-21 19:52
Mark Wahlberg's new action2024-05-21 19:44
San Francisco sues Oakland over new airport name that includes 'San Francisco'2024-05-21 19:37
Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder2024-05-21 19:24
A reset at running back might look different for the Cowboys 8 years after drafting Ezekiel Elliott2024-05-21 19:07
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature2024-05-21 19:07
Montreal scores twice in final minutes and rallies to beat Minnesota 42024-05-21 18:59