Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

2015. 10. 29
Affiliation/Position

Network Centre for the Research in Anthropology, Lisbon, Portugal

NameRaquel Costa

1. Country/location of visit
Sasagamine hűtte, Niigata prefecture
2. Research project
Sasagamine Field Science Course

3. Date (departing from/returning to Japan)
2015.10.01– 2015. 10. 04 (04days)

4. Main host researcher and affiliation
Prof. Shigeru Sugiyama, University of Kyoto

5. Progress and results of your research/activity (You can attach extra pages if needed)
Please insert one or more pictures (to be publicly released). Below each picture, please provide abrief description.

The main focus of this training course was to learn survival techniques and climb the Mount Hiuchi.
In the first day we learnt some basic things on local vegetation (for example, distinguish some toxicplants) while collecting wild berries. Moreover, Prof. Sugiyama held a lecture on local fauna. He
showed us video montages of wild foxes and badgers, specifically, of some individuals known tolive and forage near the lodge. Although in the following days we tried to observe them, we missed
that opportunity. On the other hand, we did observed wild Japanese macaques closely, in the second
day while walking near the lodge. We also caught a Japanese four-lined rat snake, which weexamined and photographed very close before release. But this encounter also had me realize that
we should always pay attention, not only to the floor, but also to the tree branches as some speciesof snakes (like that one) can climb and move around trees.
Another great skill that we learnt was how to read a map, a lecture given by Prof. Yamamoto in thesecond night – this is very important and helpful and I’ll apply this knowledge in my future fieldwork. Prof. Yamamoto also gave us details about the hiking trail in Mount Hiuchi, precise
instructions and advices. In the next day, we set to the Mount Hiuchi as scheduled, with a perfectweather. We started at around 1300 meters (from the lodge) at 6 am and reached the summit (2496meters) at 1130 am. We included regular rest stops throughout the duration of the climb and wewalked in an appropriate speed in order to maintain our strength and also to enjoy the beautiful
view. In the summit we could see the other mountains, including Mount Fuji. We returned at the：Submit to report@wildlife-science.org

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Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

lodge at 1700 pm - exhausted but in high spirits and so, in that night, we had a bonfire near thelodge. In the last day, Professor Yamamoto gave us a lecture on rope work, exemplifying withseveral types of knots with different functions, which may be used in numerous situations. On theother hand, Professor Koshima lectured us in the uses and functions of bivouac, an indispensable
and very useful item in camping and consequently vital in my own field work. Such equipment may
actually be life-saving in case of emergency as it may keep us dry and warm in harsh conditions orit even may serve to carry an injured companion.
Through this experience, I acquired some survival and climbing skills which will be of great help in
my future field work. More than theoretical lecture, this course provided students the realapplications of several techniques. It had also demonstrated the importance of team cooperation,adaptation and flexibility in the field. In the end, I was left with the desire to return to the “hűtte”and to explore more its surroundings.

Fig. 1. Dinner at theFig. 2. Kyoto University Sasagamine Hütte (cabin) in

Fig. 3. Small stream in

Sasagamine Hütte.

Myoko-kogen, Nigata Prefecture.

Sasagamine.

Fig. 4. A grasshopper found near Sasagamine Hütte.

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Fig. 5. Students in the second day of the field course.

2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Fig. 6. Water drinking fountain in a small stream inFig. 7. Ancient monument in Sasagamine.

Sasagamine.

Fig. 8. Mountain view in Sasagamine.

Fig. 9. Mountain view in Sasagamine.

Fig. 10. Domestic cows grazing.

Fig. 11. Japanese four-lined rat snake.

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Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Fig. 12. Changing of the season in Sasagamine.

Fig. 13. A male Japanese macaque feeding ofinsects.

Fig. 14. Mountain view from the Sasagamine Hütte.

Fig. 15. Mountain view from the Sasagamine Hütte.

Fig. 16. Mountain view from near the top of Mount

Fig. 17. Mountain view from of the Mount Hiuchi’sHiuchi.

summit.

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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Fig. 18. Students in the summit of Mount Hiuchi.

Fig. 19. Students exploring the flora and fauna ofSasagamine.

Fig. 20. Lecture on bivouac uses and functioning.

Fig. 21 and 22. Lecture on rope work.

6. Others
I wish to express my gratitude to Prof. Sugiyama, Prof. Yamamoto and Prof. Koshima for theirguidance and patience; to my colleagues and Professor Reiko Takizawa for their patience
concerning my “food troubles”. I’m also very thankful to the PWS program, to Japan Society for thePromotion of Science, and especially to Prof. Tetsuro Matsuzawa and Prof. Misato Hayashi forsupporting this trip.

：

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2014.05.27 version