Conservation

The Decline Of The Tsushima Tube-Nosed Bat-

Tsushima Island Natural Disasters-

Tsushima Island of the Japanese archipelago is located between the Tsushima strait and Korean Strait. The Island is split into two by the Ofunakoshiseta canal in 1671, creating the north Tsushima Island and South Tsushima Island. Divided into three regions Izuhara, Toyotama , and Kamiagata. Tsushima tube-nosed bat - zxc.wiki. (2018). Zxc.wiki.


The climate is a marine humid subtropical climate, commonly struck by strong monsoon winds. In 2021, the islands were struck by a powerful typhoon damaging homes, historical elements, and animal habitats. Shrine gate crumbles due to typhoon. (n.d.).

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Donations-

Interestingly, the Island is struggling due to deforestation and damage from natural disasters. A video game titled Ghost of Tsushima has gathered a strong fan base since its release in 2020. Oloman, J. (2021, January 11). Ghost of Tsushima Fans Help With Real-Life Tsushima Island Repairs. IGN. When the typhoon hit the islands and damaged a well-known historical site, the Tsushima Shrine Gate Crumbled leading to the game fans to build donations to rebuild this site. Donations hit 27 million yen, overriding the initial goal of 5 million yen. Tsushima Shrine Gate Crumbles in Typhoon. (n.d.). All about Japan. Retrieved May 9, 2022.

‌The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center has been requesting donations for many years and has failed to reach such high amounts. Education and interest in local ecology and animal populations will benefit the Island more than all. National Endangered Species Tsushima Leopard Cat. (n.d.). Kyushu.env.go.jp. Retrieved May 9, 2022.

The Typhoon Haishen hit South Korea in September of 2020, affecting the southern Tsushima with intensive winds damaging the island. Typhoon Haishen (2020). (2022, April 19). Wikipedia.

This Island with a population of 30,000 was not only faced with strong winds but my mass plastic waste washing onshore. Author, N. (2020, January 20). Islands of abundant nature spoiled by ocean waste. The Japan Times. The population cannot keep up with the trashing measuring from two to three layers deep. Animals and various marine life will mistake debris for food, entangling, harming, and causing choking or starvation. When the trash is washed onshore, it will work its way up into the island, through the intense winds brought on by typhoons and additional storms. Marine Wildlife and Harmful Trash - Teachers (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Www.nps.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2022. Causing intense suffering to the island's various ecological structures, creating a chain reaction of damage to each species' population. Marine Wildlife and Harmful Trash - Teachers (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

ICUN Red List-

The Gloomy-Tube Nosed Bat (Murina Tenebrosa) is assessed critically endangered by the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. The number of mature individuals known is 1 and speaks for all bats. ICUN claims the species may be possibly extinct. Sano, A., & Dai. (2018, July 23). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Murina tenebrosa. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Name.

Living in Caves and SUbterranean Habitats (non-aquatic), these bats are a fragment of species suffering from intense deforestation and habitat degradation. It can be theorized that Murina Tenebrosa declined due to cave damage and bats mainly being viewed as pests. Mortality Survey Shows Leading Causes of Bat Deaths. (2016, January 21). The Wildlife Society.

Bats are hunted for food, and sport and are forced out of their mountain habitats. It is not uncommon for bats to seek shelter in homes when their habitats are damaged, leading to humans using poison and glue traps, killing bat populations and leading them to a miserable death of starvation and pain. "[On 26-Aug-2014] a sticky trap with six squirming bats arrived at the WRA Care Centre. One bat which lost a foot died soon after … | Glue traps, Bat, Save wildlife. (n.d.). Pinterest. Retrieved May 9, 2022.

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The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (TWCC)

The TWCC is the main wildlife conservation center, focusing on the Tsushima Leopard Cat. The Leopard cat population is endangered because of habitat damage and road kills. The TWCC has an amazing explanation of how to conserve the leopard cat. Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (TWCC). (n.d.). Kyushu.env.go.jp.

‌The center's mission statements are:

  • To provide information about the status of the Tsushima leopard cat, the local ecology, and other wildlife in Tsushima for public education.

  • To conduct a governmental endangered species conservation program

  • To conduct ecological research and monitoring, and to collect data relating to the endangered wildlife.

  • Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (TWCC). (n.d.). Kyushu.env.go.jp.

The center provides unique learning opportunism which engages their population in wildlife conservation, conducting automated photo surveys and trace surveys. Their focus is on the Wildcats as they are native to the island, but mass species throughout the island deserve their focus as well. 対馬野生生物保護センターとは. (n.d.). Kyushu.env.go.jp. Retrieved May 9, 2022.

The center focusing on Wildcats may lead to an interest in surrounding wildlife on the island and spark outside interest in other endangered species, perhaps leading to the community's urge to conserve wildlife they see daily before the population dwindles.


The Gloomy-Tube Nosed bat deserves intensive conservation action as it provides example for the rate of bat species throughout the world and speaks for the other mammal species on Tsushima and their dwindling populations. Widespread education and conservation information would aid the island in preventing the nearing fate of the Tsushima Species. Each lost population speaks for another and provides answers we need to understand what we could have done better and understand our mistakes.