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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Ibaraki Nature Museum Chief Curator, Koji Yamazaki

Developmental research on interspecies relationship and the conservation of black bears and brown bears inhabiting far East Russia

Research grant

Project Description

Black bears and brown bears co-habit the Russian maritime province and as it is rare to investigate the interspecies relationship - conducting this research was difficult due to the harsh natural environment and political situation. This research is in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences, utilizing various analytical techniques now possible due to technological innovation to conduct the world's first research in the Sikhote-Alin reserve conservation region. This research is positioned as the beginning for the conservation of other large mammal species that are in danger of extinction in this region.

Grant year
FY2013 Research Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2014 - March 2017
Grant amount
16,000,000 yen
Activity region
Russian maritime province, Sikhote-Alin nature reserve
Area planned for capturing bears by the Maesa River

Overview of the Organization

Chief Curator, Koji Yamazaki
Representative
Chief Curator, Koji Yamazaki
Profile
Specialist field
Mammal ecology studies, Conservation ecology
Affiliated academic societies
The Mammal Society of Japan, The Ecological Society of Japan, International Association for Bear Research and Management
Background
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science PhD, Zambia National Park Administration Wildlife Biologist, and Takao Natural Science Museum in Tokyo curator since 1995. A specialist in mammal ecology conducting research on the behavioural ecology of Asian black bears in Okutama and Nikko's Ashio Mountain region since 1991. IUCN Bear Specialists Committee Member, The Mammal Society of Japan Representative, Japan Bear Network Auditor, Ministry of Environment Wildlife Protection Management Planner, etc.
Collaborating researchers
Ivan Theodokin, PhD. Russian Academy of Sciences, Dimitri Golsikov, PhD, Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve Management Office, Dale Mikhail, PhD, Wildlife Conservation Society Russian Branch
Research record
As a student, research focused on population dynamics of Japanese deer in the Tanzawa and Ashio mountain regionsas well as the social system of lions in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Literary works include 101 tips to learn from wild forest animals, (Contributors: Japan Forest Technology Association), Ecology of bears around the world (Contributors: Showado), The Wild Mammals of Japan, (Contributors: Shoyeido), Ecology of Asian black bear - Mountain Science Booklet 8, (Contributors: Office M), Biology of the Japanese black bear and brown bear, (Compilation: Tokyo University Publishing), etc. In addition, more than 50 articles of referred journals have been published in journals in Japan and overseas.