2017 Wildlife Damage Related News

2017 is almost over, but this year too, there were various news related to wildlife damage all over the country. Among them, we will introduce the most noticeable news in the digest.

Wild boars appear frequently in urban areas

This year, wild boars appeared one after another in urban areas. For example, 10 wild boars have been confirmed in the city of Kyoto this year, and in June they appeared in the Kyoto University student dormitory "Kumano Dormitory." In November, there was an accident in which a man broke his arm after being rammed near Heian Jingu Shrine. Furthermore, in December, there was news that two of them appeared in Higashiyama Junior High School and High School in Eikando-cho, Sakyo Ward.

The number of cases where wild boars appear in the center of urban areas, which used to be far away from human living areas, is increasing year by year. There is a need to put

If you encounter a wild boar in an urban area, it is important to leave the area quietly and slowly, do not try to force it away or attack it, and do not agitate it.

Reference article : Wild boar measures - what should I do? [Urban area] Current status of wildlife damage in famous places A wild boar invaded a shopping mall in Takamatsu City, injuring 5 people

Introduction of ICT and AI for wildlife damage control

This year, I often saw cases of animal damage control measures using information and communication technology (ICT).

A survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries found that 312 municipalities in 42 prefectures are working on wildlife damage control measures using ICT. The introduction of drones as a countermeasure against wildlife damage, the reduction of the trouble of checking the capture status of traps set by remote monitoring, and the closing of cages by remote control when animals enter are expected to improve work efficiency, and ICT will be used in the future. is expected to expand further.

Reference article : Wildlife damage control using ICT

Furthermore, there is a movement to utilize AI (artificial intelligence) as a countermeasure against wildlife damage. This year, there was news that NTT DoCoMo has developed a method to detect pests taken with a night vision camera using deep learning of artificial intelligence (deep learning).

By inputting multiple consecutive images cut from the captured video and extracting the features, it was possible to detect from large animals such as wild boars to small animals such as raccoon dogs with an accuracy of 80%. In the near future, the time may come when you can complete wildlife control while staying at home.

Obligation to submit tails for proof of the number of wild boars caught (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

From April next year, the method of certifying wild boar capture will change. As a change, it will be obligatory to submit the photo and the tail together. Photographs must be taken with the head facing right, and the date must be sprayed onto the body.

As a background to this change, there are a series of cases where hunters who have exterminated them illegally receive rewards from local governments. The fraudulent tricks that have been clarified so far have been applying for a photo of the same individual taken from a different angle as a different individual, which exploited the laxity of confirmation. Hope for improvement.

This may increase the burden on both hunters and local government officials, but it is important to prove the content of the extermination in accordance with the rules.

Reference article : Obligation to submit tails to prove the number of wild boars caught

Meat utilization of captive animals is progressing

This year was a year in which I realized that attempts to utilize captured wild boars and deer as food resources have spread. I think that there were many opportunities to see in the news about efforts to promote the development of slaughtering facilities and meat distribution systems, and branding efforts, in order to utilize them in restaurants and tourism.

In the 2018 government budget bill decided by the Cabinet on December 22nd, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has allocated 550 million yen as a new "gibier doubling model development project". It is to issue a subsidy and support the stable supply of gibier and make it a business.

Personally, I think it's a very positive move to make good use of captured beasts as a resource. There are still many issues to overcome in order to make it a viable business, but the use of meat can be a source of motivation for those who take measures against wildlife damage.

summary

Considering the above digest, it is expected that measures against wildlife damage in urban areas and the use of ICT will become increasingly important next year. In addition, it is essential to acquire accurate knowledge about vermin extermination, and to carry out continuous efforts in cooperation with related organizations and communities.

May the coming year be a year of happiness for all of you.