information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
25 Mai 2013
Editor's note: This is the 15th part of a new series that has run in the past under the title of The Prometheus Trap. This series deals with how pets and livestock fared in the evacuation zone around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The series will appear on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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The newly constructed second animal shelter in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, was insufficient to accommodate all the dogs and cats that were caught in the no-entry zones around the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Therefore, the first shelter in Iinomachi district in Fukushima city, which used to be a rental warehouse, remained in use.
Kenji Shishido, a caretaker in the first shelter, was facing difficulties in dealing with dogs. Animals that were placed under protective custody after long periods of wandering loose had strengthened their hostility and fear toward humans.
When a dog, whose owner was unknown, was brought to the first shelter in February 2012, it acted aggressively toward Shishido. As the dog had been too violent, it had been given an anesthetic injection before being transported.
Though the dog was lethargic due to the anesthesia, it still acted in a threatening manner toward humans by baring its teeth. As the dog's facial expression was like that of a devil, Shishido named it “Oni” (devil).
In a week, however, Oni became acquainted with Shishido. When the dog came out of its cage quietly at the time of cleaning, Shishido praised Oni, saying, “You’re a good child.” The canine, which used to be kept as a pet, had not lost its ability to trust humans.
In March 2012, the Environment Ministry intensively caught pet animals in the no-entry zones with traps by entrusting the work to related organizations.
Until then, the ministry had put priority on placing dogs and cats, whose owners were known, in protective custody. As a result, the capturing of animals whose owners were unknown had been delayed. In particular, the collection of cats had been placed on the back-burner.
In late 2011, the ministry caught about 330 dogs and cats by using private-sector volunteers. At that time, however, it was estimated that 100 dogs and several hundred cats were still left behind in the no-entry zones. It would be necessary to catch them before the start of the spring breeding season, or their numbers would multiply even more. Therefore, the ministry implemented an intensive collection effort in March 2012.
Nearly 100 cats were caught in the initial stage. To accommodate so many cats, new cages, whose floor space measured 60 centimeters by 60 centimeters, were piled up in the second shelter though it was equipped with spacious individual rooms for dogs and cats.
The schedule for catching dogs and cats until March 19, 2012, had been set. However, the ministry decreased the number of traps. In addition, when cats that were apparently born after the Great East Japan Earthquake were caught in the traps, staff members would set them free on the spot.
After the intensive collection of animals, the ministry did not undertake a similar effort for six months.
The ministry planned to construct a new simple shelter near the second shelter by the end of May 2012. However, construction was delayed as the Fukushima prefectural government pointed out that the foundation portion of the planned new facility was weak.
In late July, four prefabricated sheds were finally completed. However, the ministry refrained from scheduling an intensive roundup of animals in August on the grounds that there was a consecutive Bon holiday period in the month.
In September, the ministry conducted another intensive collection effort. In about a month, it caught one dog and 131 cats. Many of the felines apparently did not have any previous contact with humans.
It was decided that veterinarian Seido Watanabe, who was in charge of managing animals in the second shelter, would take care of them.
“They are stray cats, aren’t they?” Watanabe thought.
They were apparently from first- or second-generation litters born to cats that had been kept as pets. They could not be called “evacuees’ pets” any more. However, they were born as the result of the delay in collecting animals in the no-entry zone.
“Do we need to include those cats?” Watanabe thought, while looking at felines that were so fearful of humans that they would cower in the corners of their cages.
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