Endangered Japanese Night Heron Chick Doing Well in Tochigi

A Japanese night heron chick, right, that hatched in July at Nasu Animal Kingdom in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture
14:25 JST, August 30, 2023
NASU, Tochigi — A Japanese night heron chick hatched in July at Nasu Animal Kingdom in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture. The baby bird eats food provided by its parents and occasionally peers out of the nest, a reassuring sight for visitors.
The Japanese night heron, an endangered species, is a migratory bird that lives in the Philippines and other parts of the world. They migrate to Japan in the summer, and most of them breed in Japan. Covered in brown, tree-like feathers, they are also called “ninjas of the forest” because of their inconspicuous appearance.
To conserve the species, Nasu Animal Kingdom accepted one male and one female Japanese night heron from another facility in 2021. In June last year, they had their first breeding success when two birds hatched, but one of them died. However, a chick hatched last month, marking the second consecutive year of successful breeding and bringing the total of Japanese night herons at the facility to four.
“The Japanese night heron breeds almost exclusively in Japan, so it is important to protect the domestic environment for them. We will continue our efforts to conserve them and raise awareness,” a zoo official said.
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Ueno Park Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom in Tokyo; About 800 Trees Present ‘Overwhelming Beauty’
-
Mid-20th Century Shopping Street in Tokyo Soon to be Demolished; Shops, Atmosphere Evokes Nostalgic Feelings
-
Cherry Blossoms in Full Glory at Japan’s Takato Castle Park; Deep Red Flowers Blooming on About 1,500 Trees
-
‘Cherry Blossom Tunnel’ Opens at Osaka Mint Bureau
-
Giant Cherry Blossom Tree Resembling Waterfall Draws Visitors to Fukushima Pref. Town; Tree Believed to be Over 1,000 Years Old
JN ACCESS RANKING