Zoo Stock Species and the Red List

Zoo Stock

This indicates that the species is included in the Second Zoo Stock Plan, which was formulated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2018. The plan sets goals for the next 10 years in three areas: "species conservation," "contribution to wildlife conservation," and "environmental education and conservation awareness." 124 animal species are included.

What is the Red List?

Based on scientific research, this is a list of wildlife classified by rank (category) indicating the degree of risk of extinction.
Livng Things Encyclopedia shows the categories (mainland and islands) assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) at the global level, the Ministry of the Environment for Japan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for Tokyo.

The higher the category in each table, the higher the risk of extinction, and CR, EN, and VU are the three categories known as "endangered species." In Tokyo, species that are not at the NT (near threatened) level but are relatively rare are considered "species of concern."

IUCN categories
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	—
CR	Serious crisis
EN	crisis
VU	emergency
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	Low Concern
DD	Data shortage
LP	—

Japan (Ministry of the Environment) Category
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	Endangered species
CR	Critically Endangered
EN	Endangered species
VU	Endangered species
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	—
DD	Lack of information
LP	Endangered local population

Tokyo Category
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	Endangered species
CR	Critically Endangered
EN	Endangered species
VU	Endangered species
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	Unranked
DD	Lack of information
LP	Endangered local population

Creatures at Tama Zoo

Japanese Wood Pigeon
Columba janthina nitens

Subspecies: Red-headed Wood Pigeon

This is a subspecies of Japanese Wood Pigeon dove endemic to the Ogasawara Islands. Its entire body is black, but due to the Japanese Wood Pigeon coloring of its feathers, there is a reddish-purple coloration on its head, a green coloration on its neck, and a purple sheen from its chest to its tail. Compared to the Japanese turtle dove, its head is more reddish. It mainly lives in trees, but will also feed on the ground. The breeding season in the wild is from February to September, when it builds a nest made of twigs in a tree cavity or among rocks and lays a single egg.

classification	Aves, Columbiformes, Pigeonidae
English name	Red-headed Wood Pigeon
distribution	Japan (Ogasawara Islands)
Residence	Dense subtropical and tropical evergreen broadleaf forests on islands
Size	Total length: 37-43.5cm Wingspan: 213-246cm Weight: Approx. 450g
food	Plant seeds, buds, and fruits
Red List	IUCN: LC (Least Concern) Japan: Critically Endangered (CR) Tokyo: Critically Endangered (CR)

Tama Zoo exhibition area

Tama Zoo and Asian Zone

Danger in the wild

Cats were introduced to each island of the Ogasawara Islands and their numbers increased, causing the population to drop to just a few dozen birds. In response, active efforts to capture feral cats began on Chichijima, the largest island in the Ogasawara Islands, in 2010. As a result, the population of Red-headed Wood Pigeon increased rapidly within two to three years, and the bird was able to escape the threat of extinction.

Conservation activities at the Tokyo Metropolitan Zoo

In 2000, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government formulated the "Red-headed Wood Pigeon Conservation and Breeding Project Plan." Based on this plan, three birds were captured on Chichijima Island in March 2001, and ex-situ conservation began at Ueno Ueno Zoo. Since then, efforts have been made to maintain the captive population by accepting injured or sick individuals for breeding, while also taking into consideration genetic diversity.

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