The number of hunting dogs has been declining in Japan. It is now more difficult for rural people to get dogs which hunt wild boars, deer and other wild animals damaging farm crops in their society.
Hunting dogs are indispensable partners of hunters. They help hunters to find out wildlife and collect animals shot with guns. Reduction in hunting with guns has brought about a decrease in hunting dogs.
According to a survey conducted in 2013 by the Ministry of the Environment, 87,000 people had official licenses to hunt wild animals with traps and nets, down about 4,000 from 2008. License holders for hunting with guns such as rifles and shotguns more tremendously decreased from 135,000 to 96,000 during these five years.
“If the number of hunting dogs further decreases, rural people will find it more difficult to prevent their forests from falling into ruins. Crop damages by wild animals could be more spread. We need urgently improve the overall system of breeding and training to increase hunting dogs,” an expert of the Research Center for Wildlife Management managed by the Gifu University said.
(Feb. 13, 2016)