Japanese Zoo Succeeds in Breeding Endangered Rat

October 24, 2018

Tokyo- A zoo in the southwestern Japan city of Miyazaki has succeeded for the first time in the world in breeding endangered Amami spiny rats, according to the Environment Ministry.

With Amami spiny rats in danger of extinction for such reasons as predation by alien species, the ministry has worked with the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums to try to breed them at three facilities including Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo, which achieved success.

The brown-colored rat, whose scientific name is Tokudaia osimensis, inhabits Amami-Oshima Island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. It has spiny hairs and is some 10-15 centimeters long.

The Miyazaki zoo began in January 2017 to raise Amami spiny rats captured on Amami-Oshima. It confirmed that four rats were born in a nest between Sept. 15 and Oct. 6 this year, of which one died and three are growing up well, according to a ministry official.

"We hope to share information on the successful breeding with other zoos in order to develop solid breeding technologies," the official said. Jiji Press