The Ryukyu long-haired rats are only found on the islands of Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima, off Kagoshima Prefecture, and typically feed on acorns. This year, however, the critically endangered rats are feasting on the blossoms of the cherry trees as soon as they appear.
“For the last few years, there have been fewer and fewer acorns at this time of year, although we are not sure why,” said Tatsuya Hiragi, of the Amami Museum.
“The rats feed on the acorns but we think that with the reduced crop over the last few years, they are finding it difficult to locate enough food to survive,” he said.
The beetle that could wipe out Japan’s cherry blossom trees
“These are already an endangered species and although we do not know exactly how many rats are on the islands, we know it is not a large number and something like this could be a serious problem for their population here,” Hiragi said.
In an effort to stave off hunger, the rats have apparently taken to eating the cherry tree blossoms as soon as they appear.
The rat, designated as a national natural treasure, can grow up to 30cm long. They also have distinctive tails that are partially white. Inscribed on the Environment Ministry’s Red List of endangered domestic species, the rats’ numbers have declined as their natural environment has been lost to deforestation and the development of the islands.
Despite being semi-tropical, the islands of southern Kyushu and northern Okinawa have cherry trees which are among the earliest in Japan to bloom.
The destruction of the blossoms by the rats may ruin some “hanami” cherry-blossom viewing parties, but a growing number of trees have also fallen victim to a variety of predators in recent years.
Authorities in several parts of Japan are battling infestations of aromia bungii, better known as the red-necked longhorn beetle, which are killing cherry trees.
Native to China, Mongolia and other parts of mainland Asia, the beetle has a distinct preference for cherry and peach trees. The creatures grow up to 4cm in length and bore into the tree trunks to lay their larvae before their young emerge in the summer months.
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The beetles were first identified in 2012 in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, and are believed to have entered the country in cargoes of timber from China, Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. And they have quickly acquired a taste for life in Japan.Local authorities admit to having been caught off guard by the invasion and have been forced to cut down trees as no effective pesticide exists to exterminate the beetles.
To date, hundreds of cherry trees have been felled in Tokyo as well as the prefectures of Saitama, Gunma, Tokushima, Tochigi and Osaka.
One expert has warned the crisis is so acute that Japan’s cherry trees might one day be wiped out.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Hungry rats ruin cherry blossom views
