White stork population in Japan set to surpass 1000
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In Japan, the number of wild white storks, a nationally protected species, reached 728 as of the end of August. During the 2026 breeding season, 199 storks flew from nests in 38 cities and towns across 14 prefectures. Akiharu Kamihogi, director of the Hyogo Prefectural White Stork Park, stated that at the current rate, the population will exceed 1000 in two years.
The number of fledglings has recently been around 100 to 140 per year, but 2026 saw a larger number of storks per nesting site. Park officials believe good feeding conditions may have contributed to this increase, but they do not fully understand the reason for the surge, calling it a particularly good year for breeding. The birds also face new challenges, including injuries from becoming entangled in agricultural netting used to protect crops from animal damage.
