環境

The status of habitat distribution for the Sika deer (Japanese deer) in the low mountainous and hilly areas of the Tama River and Akigawa River water systems was investigated through camera traps, evidence confirmation, night observation, and interviews. The results of the April 2013 - March 2014 investigation confirmed that the 21 mesh of the standard regional mesh was habitat for the Sika deer. It was verified that the 12 mesh was a new habitat when compared to the habitat distribution up until 2010, as identified by previous research by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The distribution area was identified to have expanded further east and into lower elevations than the low mountainous and hilly district. In the north of the Tama River, the mesh that confirmed to be the Sika deer habitat was distributed toward the east side along the Nariki and Kasumi Rivers. In the area between south of the Tama River and north of Akigawa River, as well as the area south of the Akigawa River, there were less mesh that confirmed the Sika deer habitat, and its distribution was not expanding toward the east.

The result of this study will be submitted to the Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, through the Tokyo Sika Deer Protection and Management Planning and Study Committee. Currently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and we are exchanging information regarding the Sika deer in the low mountainous and hilly areas that are gathered through our information exchanges with Tokyo rangers and Akiruno rangers. Through these efforts, the distribution expansion to the Sika deer into urban areas is becoming clearer. We plan to clarify the distribution in the Asa River region, which was not included in the scope of this study, and implement an investigation regarding damage to vegetation in the low mountainous hilly areas.