Toki Forest Bird Park


2017.11.12

NAVITIME TRAVEL EDITOR

Toki Forest Bird Park

The toki, or Japanese crested ibis, is an East Asian bird whose future has been drastically turned around in the last 15 years. After teetering on the edge of extinction in the early noughties, an ambitious restoration project undertaken in Sado has seen this beautiful bird make a comeback to Japan with Toki Forest Park one of the best spots to catch a glimpse.

  • Toki Forest Bird Park

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    The toki is a bird belonging to the Threskiornithidae family. Its most striking feature is its orange head, as well as a slightly pinkish tinge to its feathers. Formerly a common sight in Japan, the toki population saw a massive decline in the middle of the 20th century when they became popular among hunters who sought after their meat and feathers.

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    In 1952, it was recognized that the bird was in great need of international protection to avoid extinction but this wasn’t enough to turn the negative trend. In 1981, only a few specimens remained and a conservation project was initiated. This didn’t prove fruitful and in 2003 the last naturally born ibis in Japan died and the bird was formally declared extinct in the country.

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    However, the toki was still alive in China so a few of the birds were imported to Japan and to the facilities at Sado. Since then, the breeding project has proved to be successful. In 2008, some of the ibises born and raised here were released to live freely on Sado again, and today it is expected that around 80 specimens live in the wild on this island.

    The situation is still precarious, and the future of the bird is still uncertain. However, thanks to a group of ambitious biologists, the situation looks brighter than it has for a long time. The number of toki living on the island is increasing steadily, and people’s awareness and understanding of this sensitive bird means that it’s unlikely to fall prey to human hands again.

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    The Toki No Mori Koen (Toki Forest Park) on Sadoshima is where this ambitious conservation project is taking place with a part of their facilities open to visitors. Go along and learn more about the history of the toki and take a trip to the breeding cages where you can get a closer look.

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    Toki Forest Bird Park

    Open every day apart from Mondays, Toki Forest Park can be entered for 400 yen, a “cooperation fee” which is used to maintain the facilities and help ensure a prosperous future for these beautiful birds.

    The bus line that runs between Mano and Ryotsu makes a stop at the Toki Forest Park. There’s usually one bus per hour going in each direction throughout the day.

    Toki Forest Park
    rating

    4.0

    191 Reviews
    place
    Nigata Pref. Sadoshi Nibonagaune 383-2
    phone
    0259224123
    opening-hour
    8:30-17:00(Last entry16:30)
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