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[2008-02-28] Humpback whales are now migrating to Okinawan waters, an annual affair for the big, slow beasts, and opportunities are available to watch them play and frolic.
The most popular places to view the whales is in the Kerama Islands, near Naha. Read More! [2008-02-14] A black spoon heron who spent 38 days wandering the Toyosaki mud lands with fishing leader wrapped around his bill is on the road to recovery, and wants to personally convey his appreciation to rescuers.
“Many people have been worried about me, and now I’m quite all right,” he tells his admirers. Read More! [2008-01-04] Urban redevelopment and road expansion are forcing relocation of dozens of Camphor trees along Route 20 in front of the Okinawa City Police Station, but specialists say some will not survive the transplants.
The popular trees have lined Camphor Tree Street for decades, and citizens met with authorities eight times to decide the best way to save the trees while clearing the way for necessary progress. Read More! [2008-01-04] Environmentalists in Zamami Village are smiling a bit, pleased to discover coral in the Kerama Islands appears to be making a comeback after severe damages were discovered.
Tetsuya Miyahira of the Kerama Natural Environment Preservation Committee says coral is being observed having more healthy numbers after an intensive campaign to exterminate poisonous starfish, which endanger coral. Read More! [2007-09-21] With the summer tourist season slowing, environmental groups are cranking up their annual projects to rejuvenate and clean Okinawa’s beaches.
The International Coastal Cleanup will extend through September and October, linking the “My Beach” Project Adopt-a-Beach Program, Okinawa Cleanup YUIMARU-ICC, the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability Convention, NPO Okinawa OCEAN and Au Okinawa Cellular. Read More! [2007-08-23] Nearly two dozen Yambarukuina, a flightless rail bird native to Okinawa, have been struck by automobiles already this year, and 17 have been killed.
The Yambarukuina is already on the Japan’s official Red List of endangered species, and officials say the deaths are higher than at this time a year ago. Read More! [2007-08-09] Worried about warming sea temperatures and government inaction to protect the Yaeyama Islands environment, a group of Ishigaki citizens have begun their own project to save endangered coral reefs.
Ishigaki's Shiraho Sakana-Waku Umi Council is drafting its own environmental rules on protecting the fragile waters surrounding the southern islands, with tourism companies being the first to be told to change operating procedures. Read More! [2007-08-09] The dugong now has official protection.
The quiet-natured lumbering sea mammals populating northern Okinawan waters have been declared the "most highly endangered species" and added to the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List of endangered species. Read More! [2007-06-21] Congratulations It’s a girl!
Jubilant officials at Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium are heralding the first ever birth of a manta ray in captivity. It’s a monumental feat, never achieved anywhere in the world before, and comes nearly 19 years after the aquarium began trying to breed the Mantra birostris. Read More! [2007-02-01] Humpback whales are now swimming in waters adjacent to the Kerama Islands, migrating to Okinawa to breed, and then raise their newborn calves.
The annual ritual began a few weeks ago, but it¹s only now that the lumbering sea mammals are showing up in large numbers, and in locations easily accessible by tourists wanting to watch them. Read More!
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