Wildlife

Research Center of Kyoto University

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Contents

Foreword...................................................................4

Outline of the Center
Declaration..........................................................5
Organization........................................................6
Undergraduate / Postgraduate Education.............7
Leading Graduate Program in Primatology
and Wildlife Science (PWS)...................................8International Field and Laboratory Course............9Introduction of PIs
Studies on ecology and behavior
for wildlife conservation
Shiro KOHSHIMA...................................... 10
Fieldwork for African great apes
in moist and arid areas
Gen'ichi IDANI........................................... 14
Molecular approaches for wildlife conservation
Miho MURAYAMA.................................... 17
Understanding humans by studying
nonhuman animals
Satoshi HIRATA......................................... 20
Observation of Japanese monkeys
to understand their behavior and ecology
Hideki SUGIURA........................................ 23
Conservative physiology in wildlife study:
Hormonal approaches to conserve endangered species
Kodzue KINOSHITA................................... 26

From Visiting Researchers
Networking for the conservation and sustainable
use of Ghanaian native livestock and wildlife
Boniface Baboreka KAYANG.................... 29
Antimicrobial properties of Tanzania
honey in relation to vegetation types
Victor Alexander Mwijage KAKENGI....... 32
Collaboration between India and Japanon wildlife research
Raman SUKUMAR..................................... 34

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Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Researching many species
from land, sea, and sky-- from rainforest to snow mountain,
while connecting field and lab work.

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Access

Hyakumanben Bus Stop to WRC

Higashioji St.

Wildlife Research Center

About 3 min.

Imadegawa St.

Walk

Wildlife ResearchCenterMap
Hyakumanben Bus Stop

Demachiyanagi Station

Sports Gymnasium

Hyakumanben
Bus Stop

Imadegawa
Station

JR Rapid Train“Shinkaisoku”

Marutamachi St.

Sanjo
StationShijo St.

Kyoto
Station

Kawaramachi St.

About 30 min.

Imadegawa St.

The Kyoto
University
MuseumKyoto
University

Higashioji St.

Subway Karasuma Line

Marutamachi
StationKeihan Line

Subway

JR Kyoto Station

Shop and cafeteria
RenaisKonoe St.

Kawabata St.

Imadegawa Station

Bus

Higashi Ichijo St.

Karasuma St.

Bus

About 40 min.

Wildlife ResearchCenterHyakumanben
Bus Stop

Sanjo St.

T

he Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University
collaborates with foreign researchers and accepts graduate
students actively.

JR Osaka Station
About 90 min.

About
80 min.
JR Airport
Limited Express
Train“Haruka”

About 70 min.
JR Rapid Train“Kankukaisoku”

JR Kansai-kuko Station

Wildlife

Research Center of Kyoto University

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Kansai Airport
Limousine Bus

Kansai International
AirportProduction: Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University
2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan
Phone: +81-(0)75-771-4393 | Fax: +81-(0)75-771-4394
E-mail: web-info@wrc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Website: http://www.wrc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/index.html

The 10th anniversary ceremony

Production/cooperation: Kyoto Tsushinsha Press
Design: Susumu Notomi

ForewordT

he Wildlife Research Centerof Kyoto University was established as the first university
wildlife research institution in
Japan in April 2008. In the past decade,Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin (Photo by Mikurashima Tourist Information)
we have expanded our network within the
country and abroad, conducting research and education. This book introduces the activities of the center.
Currently, we collaborate with more than 20 zoos and aquariums to conduct ex-situ conservation. We conduct
in-situ conservation research in cooperation with local research institutes at 7 overseas research bases. We accept
graduate students of the Graduate School of Science to accomplish our education mission. Also, we participate in
the leading graduate program, “Primatology Wildlife Science (PWS)”. So far, more than 60 students have studied
more than 38 species of wild animals in 13 countries.
Although we are still a small organization, we have created the new discipline, “wildlife science”. At its inception, the center started with six full-time faculty members. Now, 36 professors work on special posts and concurrent posts, among other positions. This development would not have been accomplished without the dedicatedcooperation of the professors and administrative staff of the institute.
In the next decade, we will pursue even greater possibilities in education and research, together with young
researchers who have advanced to realize our mission of wildlife conservation. Again, I would like to express mygratitude to all our readers for your support, now and in the future.
Director

Miho Murayama

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Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glanceDeclarationT

he Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University aims to promote scientific research and education
on wild animals, and to contribute to the peaceful coexistence of living organisms on planet earth.
Our mission can be summarized in the following three points. First, the center carries out basic research on endangered and threatened species of wild animals to promote conservation in their natural
habitat, to improve their health and welfare in captivity, and to encourage the fusion of scientific approaches toadvance our understanding of human nature. Second, the center integrates different areas of science to create new
disciplines applicable to field settings and to encourage international collaboration for the symbiosis of humans
and other living organisms. Third, in collaboration with zoos, sanctuaries, aquariums, and museums, the center promotes youth environmental education by offering them unique experiences withnonhuman animals, providing young people with a deeper insight
into all aspects of nature, including ourselves.

African elephant at
the Selous Game
Reserve, United Republic of Tanzania(Photo by Hiroko
SAKURAGI)

Giraffes at the Selous Game Reserve,
United Republic of
Tanzania (Photo by
Hiroko SAKURAGI)

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Organization

Research departmentsT

he research conducted at the
WRC focuses on endangeredlarge animals from the viewpoints of Mind, Body, Life,
Genome, and Health-Longevity. For thispurpose, the WRC consists of the following 5 research departments, 1 endowed
department, 3 research stations in Japan,
and 7 field stations in Borneo and Africa.

Research stationsin Japan
KoshimaField Station

Comparative
Cognitive
Zoo Science
Science

Yakushima
Field Station

Human
Evolutionary
Science

The Kumamoto
Sanctuary

Conservation
Biology

Healthand Longevity
ScienceEndowed department
Welfare and Longevity
ResearchJapan

Accra in Ghana
Mukaraba in Gabon

Kahuzi and Wamba in Congo
Ugala and Mahale in Tanzania

Field stations outside Japan

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Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Danum valley in Borneo

Undergraduate /Graduate EducationE

ducation at the WRC aims toteach students wide researchskills, in both laboratory andfield settings. This encompasses all processes of wildlife scientificresearch, i.e., field sampling, laboratory
analysis, data analysis, and presentations.
For this purpose, the WRC offers the following lectures for undergraduate andgraduate students.

Undergraduate
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Program
Introduction to Wildlife Sciences
Comparative Cognition-E2
ILAS Seminar
Genetic study of wild animals
Seminar on Comparative Cognitive Science
Faculty of Science
Conservation Biology
Graduate
Inter Lab Studies, Biological Science
Introduction to Wildlife Research
Fundamental Wildlife Genome Science
Fundamental Animal Behavior and Ecology
Fundamental Zoo Science
Animal Welfare Course
Basic Skills for Field Work: Non-snow season
Basic Skills for Field Work: Snow season
Field Training on Animal Behavior and Ecology
Advanced Lectures on Wildlife Research
Advanced training in field biology *Advanced laboratory skills in field biology *Advanced Studies of Primatology and Wildlife Research
Seminar on Wildlife Research* held as international field and laboratory course on page 9
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・WILDL
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京都

大学

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he Leading Graduate Program in Primatology andWildlife Science (PWS) strives to realize global
well-being. The program aims to foster individuals
with the ability to make quick judgements about
environmental issues and to design a future global society,while at the same time nurturing leaders indispensable for
global action.
Japanese primatology has played a leading role in thisunique academic endeavor. During recent years, the fieldof “Wildlife Science”, which targets endangered species research, has begun to emerge. With fieldwork as its foundation,
the fundamental aims of this field are a comprehensive understanding of the human mind, body, life and genome, as wellas hands-on activities that target the well-being of the world.
While on the frontlines of academic research, wildlife science in Japan lacks three important careers that already exist
in the West: (1) Conservation specialists with internationalorganization, such as the United Nations and other NGOs;(2) Curators of museums, zoos, aquariums, and similar institutions, particularly those that can develop and/or expand
museums or zoos as a “Field Museums” in a specific habitat;and (3) Dedicated individuals that invest great lengths of timein outreach activities in specific countries and societies, theso-called “boots-on-the-ground” approach.
While providing a foundation for new research, educationand hands-on experience, this program aims to nurture global leaders whose accomplishments grow hand-in-hand withthe larger academic field. For further details on the program,please refer to our HP (http://www.wildlife-science.org/).

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Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glanceGroup photo with President Juichi Yamagiwa. He is a founding
core-member of PWS

Practical fieldwork in the Iriomote island: PWS provides avariety of field courses

E

MATOLORISCIENCFE

Leading Graduate Programin Primatology and Wildlife Science (PWS)International Field
and Laboratory Course
Students analyzing the samples
taken in the fieldEvery year, we successively hold an international fieldwork and laboratory course for graduate
students. In the first week, we do field work on
Yakushima Island, observing animals and taking
samples. In the second week, we analyze the samples takenin the field. On the final day, students present their results ina workshop. About half of the students are invited students
from foreign countries and half are master’s course studentsof Kyoto University. Throughout the course, we use English as
the official language.
For example, in the monkey genetics course, we collectfecal samples of monkeys from all over the island. When wefind monkey feces, we wipe the surface with a cotton swab
to retrieve the DNA of monkeys. We walk long distances forsampling, from lowlands to high mountains, every day. In
laboratory work, we determine the sex of the monkeys fromsex-related DNA and local variations of mitochondrial DNA.
We find common genetic types all around the island and somelocal specific types in narrower areas.
In the deer course, we follow habituated wild deer and collect their fecal samples. Recently, in our field site, deer havebecome habituated to observers, and some individuals canbe observed closely. In the subsequent laboratory course, wemeasure sex hormone levels. The contents of the courses arefundamental and applicable to many wild animals.
Students learn basic skills and gain a knowledge of fieldwork and laboratory work. Working and living with students
from all over the world is also an enriching experience. Most
students are not so fluent in English, but they manage to com-municate with each other. This also presents a good opportunity to experience and understand different cultures. Somestudents are vegetarian; Muslim students avoid pork; and Japanese like raw fish, called ‘sashimi’.
We are very happy that some students in the course visit
us later to learn more techniques or became students of our
graduate school. We hope the friendships built in the course
will lead to further cooperation in wildlife research.

Upper: Students observing wild deer on
Yakushima Island
Lower: Students observing wild Japanesemonkeys in Koshima
Islet, another course
field site

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Studies on ecology and behavior
for wildlife conservation

Shiro KOHSHIMA
C

A

D

B

Manaus,BrazilKeywords
behavior and ecology
Field Museum
relocation program
environmental education

Research object
dolphins
Asian elephants
Malayan tapirs
Amazon manatees, etc

Notebook and pen
for descriptions offield observations andlaboratory worksWe study the ecology and behavior of various animals,
especially large animals that have not been well studied, because we believe that understanding the ecology andbehavior of each animal species is essential for its conservation and the mitigation of its conflicts with humans. We focus
on large animals because many of them are endangered species, umbrella species and flagship species, important for the
ecosystem-scale conservation of their habitats. For example,
Borneo orangutans and Amazon river dolphins can symbolize
ecosystem conservation of Asian tropical rainforests and the
Amazon River, respectively, and their conservation can contribute to the conservation of many other organisms.

Studies in the wild and captivity
to understand animal ecology and behavior

We have studied the ecology and behavior of Asian elephants (vocal and chemical communication and mitigationof conflicts with humans), Malayan tapirs (salt-lick use, vocal communication, and social structure), orangutans (feeding ecology and social interaction), wolves (eye morphology
and gaze communication), wild dogs (vocal and chemicalcommunication), civets (feeding ecology and social struc10

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Binoculars
for behavior
observations in
the fieldGPS
for mapping theobservation sites of
the animals

Video camera
for recording behavior
in wild and captive
conditions

Amazon manatee with a VHF
transmitter and a bio-logger
for behavior monitoring

Malayan Tapirture), porcupines (social structure and reproduction), sloths(activity pattern and energy budget), otters (social interaction
and chemical communication), sea otters (social interaction),
Amazon River dolphins (activity pattern and habitat use),
Ganges River dolphins (activity pattern and habitat use), andAmazon manatees (vocal communication and relocation program studies), as well as various dolphin species, including
killer whales (activity pattern, sleep behavior, vocal communication, habitat use and social interactions) and seal species(vocal communication and social interactions). I have supervised many graduate students who have studied these diverse
animals, though I have mainly studied the ecology and behavior of insects and microorganisms living in the snow and iceof the glaciers in various part of the world, such as Himalaya,Patagonia and Greenland.
We study these animals in the wild and/or captive condition. We study wild animals using various advanced methods such as bio-logging, camera trapping and sound/image
analysis. Precise analyses of the behaviors
observed in captive environments, such as
zoos or aquariums, are also important to understand the function and meaning of eachbehavior. We officially collaborate with 11
zoos and 7 aquariums in Japan to promotestudies in captivity. We also collaborate withthese zoos and aquariums to improve thecaptive condition of the animals and their
quality of life, based on the scientific results.
International program
for Tropical Bio-diversity Conservation

We organize a five-year program (20172022), the JSPS core-to-core program“Center of Excellence for Conservation of
Tropical Bio-diversity focusing on Large
Animal Studies”, which aims to promoteinternational academic exchange for tropical bio-diversity conservation among Japan,
Amazon River Dorphin

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Education Program for local communities

India, Brazil, Malaysia, China, Indonesia and the UK. In thisprogram, we promote collaborative studies on various large
animals in each member country and conduct international
training courses in Japan for field research and data/sample
analysis with advanced technology to foster the developmentof young researchers of large animals from the member countries. Two young researchers from each member country (12researchers in total) are invited to Japan every year to join the
training courses.
We also organize international seminars and workshops
to realize the “Field Museum”, a new generation zoo/aquarium/botanical garden in the natural habitat of wildlife, which
can contribute to research, conservation, education and ecotourism in each member country. The Field Museum is a
network of nature reserves and observation facilities in thenatural habitats of wildlife, where we can observe various organisms in captive, semi-captive and wild conditions, as wellas conduct research and conservation activities. The captive
and semi-captive facilities and nature reserves of the Field
Museum are essential for the successful relocation program oflarge animals and useful for studies of various organisms. The
Field Museum can contribute not only to study, conservation,and environmental education, but also to the local community through ecotourism and as a center for conservation of
local ecosystems.
JST/JICA SATREPS Program for achieving
the Field Museum in the Amazon

To realize a Field Museum in the Amazon, we organized12

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Tower for observation of forest canopy (ZF-2 Tower: 40m+10m)

a JST/JICA SATREPS Program (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development): Biodiversity Conservation in Amazon, based on the new concept of the“Field Museum” (2014-2019) and in collaboration with the
National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA, Manaus, Brazil). SATREPS is a Japanese government program structured
as a collaboration between the Japan Science and Technology
Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). ITOCHU Corporation also supports this program.
In this program, we study various Amazonian animals andplants, some of which are endangered species, and we develop facilities for observation, such as a 40-meter tower for observation of the forest canopy and a new field station in theLodging house of
Quieiras Field Station

Captive facilities in INPA

primary forest along the Quieiras River near Manaus, wheremore than 60 people can stay (Quieiras Field Station). The
Quieiras Field Station will be an important base for long-term
research on various types of tropical rainforests in this area,
including flooded forests and white-sand forests (campinarana). In this area, we can study various animals, including
pumas, jaguars and Brazilian tapirs.
We also develop captive and semi-captive facilities for rescued Amazonian manatees to conduct a relocation programby the soft-release method, in which artificially raised manatees are released to the wild after training to feed on natural
foods in a semi-captive condition. We have already released
19 manatees to the wild successfully and continue to monitor
their behavior in the wild. We have also conducted environmental education about manatees in the local communities
Semi-captive facilities in Manacapul

along the Purus River, where we released the manatees. At
present, the monitoring of the released manatees is conductedby local people who hunted manatees until several years ago.
All of the facilities and nature reserves developed by thisprogram will be used not only for study and conservation, butalso for environmental education and ecotourism in collaboration with local communities. We plan to develop various
programs of environmental education and ecotourism in the
Field Museum, based on our scientific results in collaboration
with people from local communities. For example, we will develop ecotourism programs in the Quieiras Field Station bycollaborating with the communities of Quieiras River. We
also plan to develop ecotourism programs in which tourists
can see manatees and contribute to the relocation and monitoring program managed by local communities of Purus river.
Monitoring by local people
who were manatee hunters
For more information, visit
https://www.wrc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/satreps/english/outline.html

13Fieldwork for African great apes
in moist and arid areas

Gen'ichi IDANIC

A

Keywords
great apes
society
African vegetation

D

B

Democratic Republicof the Congo (DRC)
Tropical rainforest of the Congo
Basin, Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC)

Research object
Chimpanzee
BonoboWild mammals

Binoculars
Binoculars which I
get used to

BonoboA

variety of vegetation environments exist in the continent of Africa. I have conducted research that focuses on
great apes in three main environments: tropical rainforest in
the central part of the continent, lowland forest and grassland
mosaic located at the periphery of the continent, and morearid Miombo woodland and evergreen riverine forest. My research objective is to elucidate the environmental adaptationand evolution of apes on the continent of Africa, and to clarify
the society of the genus Chimpanzees.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus) studies in the Congo Basin

Tropical rainforest, covering to 3.7 million km2, meanders
through the Congo River Basin, spreading to a total extent
of 4,700 km. In the central area of the Basin, at the Wamba
Forest (Luo Scientific Reserve) in the Equator Province of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire), I have been
conducting socio-ecological studies of bonobo since 1984.
Bonobos play an important role as a seed disperser in the regeneration and preservation of forests, as they range througha wide home territory, while eating various fruits.
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Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Satellite phone
The latest satellite phone
set. Connect with satellite
communication equipment
and use smartphone assatellite phone. It is also
possible to send andreceive short mail.

Notebook and pen
A favorite notebook anda blue ballpoint pen

Left: Juvenile bonobo in Mbali River Basin, DRC
Right: Social grooming by bonobos in Wamba, DRC

Bonobos have a patrilineal society inwhich adolescent females migrate between
unit groups, and the males do not departfrom the natal group. Before emigration,
the females become estranged from theirrelatives, such as mothers and brothers, andone day they suddenly disappear from thenatal group. After the emigration, females are thought to travel across several groups. Immediately after immigration, thefemale has interactions with all females of the new group. She
then selects one particular resident female, a ‘specific senior
female’ (SSF), whom they frequently approach and follow.
New females are established in the new group through the relationship with the SSF.
Interactions between unit groups of most primates are antagonistic or aggressive in nature. Even chimpanzees and gorillas are no exception. During such encounters in the bonobo
society, however, various affinitive behaviors, such as genito-genital rubbing, copulation, and grooming, occur between
members of different groups. Affinitive interactions between
females of different groups are particularly prominent andappear to ease the tension caused by the encounter. These
encounters may be triggered by the migration of young females. Bonobos have a regional society above the group level,in which the non-antagonistic coexistence between different
unit groups is unique among nonhuman primates.
Mammalian studies in the Ugalla area, Western Tanzania

The Ugalla area covers 3,352 km2 and is located about 100

km inland from Lake Tanganyika. The climate in the Ugalla area is characterized by a long dry season between May
and October. I have been conducting studies of vegetation,
mammalian fauna, and ecology of the chimpanzee in this field
since 1994.
The vegetation of the Ugalla area is classified as “miombo
forest” and includes three main vegetation types: woodland,
evergreen forest and grassland. Most of the Ugalla area iscomposed of woodlands, 81.7% of the total area is dominatedby deciduous trees of Brachystegia and Julbernardia, 9.8% isevergreen forest, and 8.5% is grassland. Such a specific vegetation is valuable in understanding the diversity of African
vegetation, but the environment has been transformed by human activities such as deforestation and nomadism
in recent years.
Ugalla is a rare area
where savannah-origin andforest-origin animals coexists. Namely, while inhabited by lion representatives
Miombo forest in the Ugalla area,of the savannah, chimpan- Tanzania
15An elephant in Ugalla, Tanzania

Feeding behavior of bonobos in savannah of the Mbali River Basin, DRC

zees, the main habitat of forests, also live in the Ugalla. 53
mammalian species are identified in the Ugalla area: 7 speciesof Primates, 1 of Chiroptera, 2 of Logomorpha, 4 of Rodentia,
19 of Carnivora, 1 of Tubulidentata, 1 of Hyracoidea, and 15
of Artiodactyla. In the past, many African elephants also inhabited the area, but the number has drastically decreased inrecent years.
Ugalla is the most eastern and marginal known habitat ofchimpanzees in Africa. The population density of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi) in the Ugalla, however,is lower than in other habitats of Tanzania at 0.13 animals/
km2. This density means that the total number of chimpanzees
in the Ugalla area is around 200-300 individuals. If the sizeof a unit group is consisted to be 30-35 individuals, and theunit groups are all about the same size, then around 7-9 unitgroups live in Ugalla. Moreover, if 7-9 unit groups divide the3,352 km2 Ugalla area, each unit group should have a hugehome range of around 400-500 km2.
The Ugalla area is one of the driest habitats supporting astable population of chimpanzees. The research in miombo
forest environments is important for understanding the variety and flexibility of chimpanzee adaptation and to illuminate
models of early hominid behavioral ecology.
Bonobo studies in the forest-moist grassland area

The bonobo has been thought to inhabit only tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin, but recently, a new population ofbonobos have been found to survive in the western region of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This area corresponds
16

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

to the southwestern limit of the region of bonobo distribution.
Tropical rainforests are diverse evergreen forests establishedunder moist environments, but vegetation in the southwest
area is an environment where forests and moist-grasslands(savanna) lay in a mosaic pattern.
I have been researching the inhabitation and socio-ecology of bonobos in the Mbali River Basin since 2013. 4 bonobo
groups have been confirmed in this area, and 2 of them haveadvanced to the stage of habituation and individual identification: 16 animals of the Mpelu group and 14 animals of the
Nkala group. They frequently use not only forests but also savannas, and the home range of a single group is much larger
than those of forest-dwelling bonobos. There is also the possibility of unique characteristics in the feeding ecology of bonobos in this habitat.
This area is adjacent to distributions of the central chimpanzee (Pan t. troglodytes)
and the western gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) across theCongo River. As this fieldsite enables the comparisonof different adaptations to
the environment and theevolution of three African
great apes who inhabit simgrassland in the westilar vegetation types, we will Forest-moist
ern region of DRC
also deepen and develop
research on human evolutionary theory in the future.

Molecular approaches
for wildlife conservation

Miho MURAYAMA
A

C

B

D

T

here are several approaches to learn more about wild animals. Among them we use molecular approaches, suchas genome and cell analysis. Even in wild conditions, where
direct observation is difficult, non-invasive samples, such as
feces and feathers, bring us useful information, such as genetic diversity and individual genotypes of functional genes, fortarget animals. The results of our research will not only benefit
reproduction of captive animals, but it can also be applied tothe conservation of species in the wild.
International networking for molecular methods

We have been collaborating with foreign laboratories,
where researchers are using molecular methods for wildlife
study. The project entitled “International Coordination for
Endangered Animal Conservation Based on New Post-Genomic Techniques” was funded by the Supporting Programfor Interaction-based Initiative Team Studies (SPIRITS) of
Kyoto University (2016-2017). Many zoos in Europe and the
USA have research departments where the staff members
have ready access to biological samples from zoo animals. In
addition, the scientific output from these samples can be fed
back to the animal rearing and management strategies of thezoo from which they came. Inspired by such activities, theWildlife Research Center has launched a program to coordinate scientific cooperation and networking between manyzoos and aquaria in Japan, including the Kyoto City Zoo. The
cooperation between researchers, veterinarians, and keepers
is mutually beneficial to all individuals involved. Such cooperation will yield scientific findings that will help the promotion

Keywords
database, genetic diversity,
personality, managementof many research projects across the globe.
A DNA cell database for further understanding species

Understanding the range of genetic diversity within species requires obtaining and genotyping many samples for eachResearch object
Japanese golden eagle,
Grasscutter,
Okinawa rail,
Ryukyu flying fox,
Grevy’s zebra,
Tsushima wildcat,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Common marmoset,
Japanese monkey,
Chimpanzee,
PigeonTenugui(Japanese hand towel)
In hot and dry weather I
get cool by evaporation of
wet tenugui.

Konpeito(crystal sugar candy)
It does not melt in
hot weather.

Daruma (Dharma)
Traditional lucky item,the symbol of patienceand never giving up.
Every February my old
friend presents me larger
one than before.

17

Japanese golden eagle
resting its wings. They
use the same tree forresting (Photo by Taku
MAEDA)

Collecting samples by
rubbing the inside ofa dog’s mouth with acotton swab.

species. We collected DNA samples from over 27,000 individuals representing 200 species each of mammals and birds.
Since some animals are difficult to capture, and thus blood
samples are not always available, we devised methods for efficient DNA analysis using noninvasive samples, such as feces
and hair. We stored these in a DNA database (the DNA Zoo),
which also includes information on the geographical regionin which the sample was collected and characteristics of theindividual. Using the DNA Zoo, we identify subspecies/populations/kinships by genotyping polymorphic markers, suchas microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA. Moreover, by analyzing genes on the sex chromosome, we can identify the sexof some bird species in which males and females are difficult
to distinguish by observation alone. Also, we are planning todevelop a cell bank and are trying to prepare iPS cells. We
are studying the conditions for cryopreservation of germ cells,such as sperm and immature oocytes. A part of our database isopen to the public through National Institute of Environmental Studies (http://www.nies.go.jp/time_capsule/). In 2018,
WRC signed an MOU with the San Diego Zoo in the USA,
where they have been banking frozen cell cultures, collectedfrom almost all the animals kept there.
Genetic basis of animal personality

We are also surveying individual differences in functional genes related to personality traits (e.g. stress susceptibility)
and reproduction. Individual humans and other mammals
display unique personality traits, which we believe are influenced by both their genetics and their environment. Per18

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glancesonality traits appear to be mediated by genes that regulate
neural and hormonal transmissions. The personality traits ofa human strongly influence his or her health condition. This
led to the idea of conducting genetic studies of wild animals
to identify their personality. I expected that knowledge of theindividual animal’s personality would be useful for predicting their health status and mate choice, which are importantfactors for successful wildlife breeding and conservation. Ourstudies include wild animals, such as primates, elephants, dolphins, zebras, and raptors, as well as domesticated animals,
such as dogs, cats, horses, and chickens. For example, we
found that genotypes of vasopressin receptor and mu-opioid
receptors affect personality and cortisol hormone level in captive marmosets (Inoue-Murayama et al. 2018).
Genetic management of captive populations

In view of future re-introduction, appropriate management for reproduction and maintenance of captive populations is important. Therefore, not only in-situ, but also ex-situ,
conservation is needed. For example, Japanese golden eagles
are estimated at 500 in the wild and are endangered. We developed microsatellite primers from genome sequencing andgenotyped both wild and captive Japanese golden eagle populations. The results revealed that there was no big differencein genetic diversity between wild and captive populations andthat there was no evidence of inbreeding in either population.
However, subsequent population viability analysis (PVA) to
examine the demographic and genetic future of the captive
population demonstrates the severe effects of existing repro-the Republicof Ghana

Practice of DNA analysis in the
University of Ghana

ductive skews, suggesting that this population is not sustainable without intensive genetic management. As a solution, we
devised appropriate conditions to maintain the captive population for 200 years (Sato et al. 2017).
Domestication of new livestock for wildlife conservation

University of Ghana in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa,
is one of our most important research bases. Prof. Kayang,a counterpart collaborator from the University of Ghana,stayed at WRC as a post-doctoral researcher in 2008-2009.
We then accepted a PhD student in WRC from 2010 to 2014.
After graduation, Dr. Adenyo returned to work as a Research
Fellow at the University of Ghana. So far, we have accepted
11 Ghanaian students in Japan to study genetic diversity,
infection, and the probiotics of wildlife and livestock, foraround 2 months each. Also, Japanese researchers visited
Ghana to conduct research with local researchers. In 2017,
Kyoto University and the University of Ghana signed an
MOU for more collaboration.
One of the main topics of our collaboration is domestication of the large rodent named grasscutter (Thryonomys
swinderianus) as a new livestock species (Adenyo et al. 2018).
The northern part of Ghana is facing a severe food shortage.
In particular, due to insufficient animal protein supply, thephysical development of children is greatly delayed comparedwith children in the southern urban area. The harsh climaticconditions in that region are not suitable for rearing cattle andpigs. Our project therefore aims to support the domestication
and breeding of grasscutters, a species indigenous to that area.

Laboratory meeting in the Wildlife Research Center

Since hunting wildlife is likely to adversely impact the ecological balance and involves the risk of zoonotic infection, weare promoting grasscutter domestication to secure safe animal
protein for the local people. This grasscutter project was sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),KAKENHI and JSPS Bilateral Joint Research Project (20182019). Also, we launched a new NGO, Grasscutter Initiativefor Rural Transformation (GIfT), to continue the mission of
the grasscutter project through the support of the Ajinomoto
AIN grant (2018-2021). As a result of our four-year activities,
the number of captive grasscutters in the target area increased
from 0 to 250 (see more on this project from Prof. Kayang)
Aiming to develop new molecular techniques

We plan to actively work on wildlife conservation by using new molecular techniques. For example, to prevent illegal
trade of poached wild animals, DNA profiling is used to identify species, sex, and origin of the seized samples. Such ‘wildlife forensics’ is needed more and more in the future (Ogden
et al. 2009). Based on our DNA database we will develop astandard for DNA profiling.
For animals with a long lifetime, such as elephants, apes
and some birds, estimation of age composition in the population is important for creating a conservation strategy. We aredeveloping new molecular techniques to estimate the age of
wildlife by DNA methylation (Ito et al. 2018).
For more information, visit
http://miho-murayama.sakura.ne.jp/

19Understanding humans by studying
nonhuman animals

Satoshi HIRATA

C
A

Drone
Collective movements ofwild horses are recorded
by a drone.

Keywords
comparative cognitive science,
understanding human nature,state-of-the art technologies

D

B

W
Kumamoto

chimpanzee

hat are human beings? What is in the minds that inquire about human beings? Starting with such questions, I entered into the academic world to study nonhumanprimates from comparative cognitive perspectives. Since
graduate school, the main target of my research has been the
chimpanzee, one of the closest living relatives of humans. I
aim to explore the evolution of the human mind through theinvestigation of the social intelligence in great apes.

The first and only sanctuary for chimpanzees andbonobos in Japan: Kumamoto Sanctuary

Research object
chimpanzee
bonobohorse

Eye-tracker
Eye-gaze of subject
animals is measured
by an eye-tracker.

Touch screen
Chimpanzees and bonobos
engage in cognitive tasks
via touch screen.

20

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

My study site for work with chimpanzees and bonobos, thegreat ape species, is Kumamoto Sanctuary (KS). KS is the firstand only sanctuary for chimpanzees and bonobos in Japan.
It is located in Kumamoto prefecture, approximately 800km
southwest of Kyoto University’s main campus. The facility
was originally owned by a pharmaceutical company that wasinvolved in Japan’s biomedical research project using chimpanzees. The facility, chimpanzees, and other properties ofKumamoto Sanctuary were then transferred to Kyoto University on August 1st, 2011.
KS is now officially part of
the Wildlife Research Center. The KS staff, around 10
members, are passionately
committed to enhancing thephysical and psychologicalwell-being of the chimpanKumamoto Sanctuary, Kumamoto,zees and bonobos housed Japan

Chimpanzees engaging
in a touch-screen task

at the Sanctuary. In Japan, no
chimpanzees whatsoever areused in laboratory research.
All of the chimpanzees formerly involved in biomedical
research have now been retired
and are housed comfortably at
Kumamoto Sanctuary. The last
three chimpanzees that still remained in another biomedical
research facility were transferred to KS on May 15th, 2012,
which marked the end of housing chimpanzees in biomedical
facilities in Japan.
Using comparative cognitive science for animal welfare

After Kumamoto Sanctuary was established in 2011, external research grants funded some facility renovations, namely
the construction of two sets of outdoor and indoor spaces, aswell as a 155m-corridor that connects three different holdingbuildings. These outdoor spaces function not only as the apes’
living environment, but also as places to conduct behavioral
and cognitive studies. Two indoor rooms were also built as
study areas. Using these environment, our research has revealed the apes’ long-term memory of single events, implicit
false-belief comprehension, attention to conspecific picturesand videos, and skin temperature changes in response to emotional videos. One innovative study method we developed is
to make movies for the apes. In one of these movies, we wrote
a scenario that we believed would attract and excite the apes.
In it, I played the role of a King-Kong character by wearing a

King-Kong suit. The apes were indeed excited when watching
the story of King-Kong. In this way, the study succeeded. As
mentioned above, we could prove that the apes remembered
the storyline of the movie and that the apes showed some level of understanding about the mental states of the characters
who appeared in the movie.
Using state-of-the-art technologies plays an important rolein conducting these types of studies. We have used computer-controlled touch screens, eye-trackers, and infra-red thermography, among other methods, to investigate the mindsof chimpanzees and apes. Before using such technologies,
however, the most important method is to establish a good
relationship with the chimpanzees and bonobos. Each individual ape has a different personality; thus, we need to thoroughly understand each individual’s characteristics by closeand patient observations of everyday life behavior before wecan conduct a good study.
Other scientific studies, focused on ape welfare, have included the evaluation of hair cortisol as an indicator of stress,
the change in hair cortisol levels in different housing conditions and social situations, the relationship between the fre21

Vijay, a male bonobo at
Kumamoto Sanctuary

Portugal
Feral horses viewed from a drone at Serra
D’Arga, Portugal

quency of social play and social tension, and the diagnosis andcare of a blind chimpanzee with Down syndrome. Throughthis research, I hope to contribute to the understanding andcaptive welfare of our closest living relatives.
Aiming to better understand human beings:
the study of feral horses at the Portugal Field Station

In addition to the study of chimpanzees and bonobos, I
have also started to investigate the behavior of feral horses.
After exploring several alternatives, we arrived at Serra D’Arga, Northern Portugal in October 2015, deciding to set up a
field station to study feral horses there. The breed of horses
living there is called “garrano”. Horses have become extinct
in the wild in a strict sense, but there are some places acrossthe world where once-domesticated horses live in natural environments, outside of human control. By studying horses, we
can broaden our understanding of the evolution of the humanmind and human behavior. Horses are terrestrial and evolutionarily distantly related to humans, while apes are arboreal
and evolutionarily closely related. Because of this contrast,
comparative studies of these different animal species will shed
new light on the understanding of human nature.
We have identified over 200 individual horses at Serra
D’Arga, which belong to over 30 different groups. Utilization of the method of individual identification in the study ofanimal behavior was initiated by Japanese researchers in the
1940s, through observations of feral horses in the southernpart of Japan. They later shifted their attention to wild monkeys, with whom they similarly used the method of individual22

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

identification. Through this work, we track the history of animal study in Japan from horses to primates.
As stated above, horses are phylogenetically distant fromprimates, but considerable behavioral links exist between the
two. The sociality of horses, characterized by group stability,
is similar to that of primates, but different from that of manyother ungulates. Therefore, one research goal in our study ofhorses is to explore the evolution of human and non-humananimal societies. New technology helps us conduct this research, as illustrated by the work at Kumamoto Sanctuary. At
Serra D’Arga, we started to use drones, or unmanned aerial
vehicles. There is a clear advantage in using drone surveys forhorses, as they live on relatively flat ground without many obstacles, and one can easily observe entire groups from the sky,remotely. The Serra D’Arga is particularly interesting because
the horses there are preyed upon by wild wolves. This activity
is important for nearby villagers because wolves’ predation on
horses protects the villagers’ precious livestock, such as cows,
sheep and goats. This typeof coexistence between
wildlife and humans is
also one of the focuses of
our investigations.
Use of a drone to record horsebehaviors from the sky

Observation of Japanese monkeys
to understand their behavior
and ecology
C

A

D

B

Hideki SUGIURA

Keywords
long-term study (of wild monkeys),behavior, ecology, field station,
education, eco-tourism

I

Identification tableof monkeys
The identification table
has name, age, kinship,
illustration and photos ofeach monkeys. The table
has information of morethan 200 monkeys of 14
groups.

Binoculars
We can observemonkeys and deerin close detail for along time. Binoculars
are useful to identify
individuals andbehavior.

Map
Forest trails
and otherlandmarks
are added
to the basemap.

CameraI take picturesof monkeys for
identification.

Poison remover
The most dangerous
animal in our field
is hornets. Poison
remover is very
effective against
hornet sting.

study the behavior andecology of Japanese monKoshimakeys, endemic species ofJapan. Japanese monkeys
Yakushima
have been studied since1950’s in the wild and are
one of the longest-studied animals in the world. WRC has
two field stations in long-term Japanese monkey study sites,
Koshima and Yakushima. In these sites, we can observe monkey behavior in detail in the wild, which tells us how and why
they present their behaviors. We can also observe where andhow they live, which tells us about the important habitats andresources they need.
Observing monkeys in the long term, we can see that their
number changes over the time. Such changes may be more
rapid than we imagine, probably because their habit changes
rapidly due to human influence. During long-term observation, we sometimes come across a rare event. For example, inan unusual food shortage, monkeys eat unexpected foods andrange further than we normally see. In such severe conditions,
we can learn about their potential to adapt to their environment. In other words, we can learn the extent to which natural
conditions change and how animals respond to the changes.
Koshima Field Station: the first for primate observation

Japanese monkey
Research object
Japanese monkey
Wild mammals ofYakushima

The Japanese monkeys in Koshima Islet have been studied
since 1948, for more than 70 years. The Koshima Field Station
was founded in 1967 by the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto
University and was succeeded by WRC in 2008. At present,23

Students observing Japanese monkeys at Koshima Islet

we have about 100 monkeys on the islet, and wehave identified and named every individual for
more than 50 years.
At Koshima Islet, we have had many important
findings, especially in the early stages of primatology. An important and famous finding is “culture” in animals. A young female began a new behavior of washing potatoes. This unique behavior
gradually spread into the other group members.
This finding surprised the world, because people
do not believe that animals learn things from the A female washing sweet potatoes on the shore of Koshima Islet (photo by T. Suzumura)other individual or that they share a specific behavior in a group or populations. We can still watch the “pople, it improved their nutrition to bring about a population
tato washing”, retained by this group for more than 60 years.
expansion. Now we try to minimize such a negative impact.
In Koshima Islet, we have provisioned food to the monWe allow our technical staff only to provide a regular amountkeys. Monkeys were habituated to human observers, and weof food to monkeys at regular intervals. We also reduce thecan observe them closely. These conditions have allowed foroverall amount of food we provide, watching the body condisome experimental studies. An example is a study of paration and population parameters, carefully.
sites of monkeys. Sarabian and MacIntosh (2015) displayed
Koshima Islet is a very suitable place for education. We
wheat in three ways: wheat on sand (the usual condition ofhold field practice courses for master’s students every year.
provisioning), on a model of monkey feces, and on real feces.
Students observe monkeys in their natural habitat and collect
The subject monkey ate the food on the sand quickly, but she
behavioral or ecological data. They also learn basic skills in
hesitated to eat the food even on model feces. In addition, she
the field, such as map reading and first-aid treatment. We also
looked around and scratched her body, a typical behavior inhold a course for citizens, in which people observe monkeys
a controversial situation. She wanted both to eat and to avoidon the island and take a lecture on monkeys and nature. In
the feces, indicating that the monkeys tend to avoid “dirty”
addition to our own courses, we cooperate in the education
things and thus displaying a sense of hygiene.
programs of the local schools and universities, providing
Provisioning is useful for observation; however, we also
guidance and lectures.
came to know its negative impact on wild animals. For exam24

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glanceJapanese monkeys in Yakushima. They often groom in coolplaces near the stream insummerJapanese deer in Yakushima. The female in the left
side is attached to a radio
collar for location andindividual identification

Yakushima Field Station:monkeys in the World Heritage forest

Since 1973, intensive study of wild Japanese monkeys
started on Yakushima Island, by graduate students of Kyoto
University. Yakushima Field Station was founded in 1988 by
the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University and was succeeded in 2008 by WRC.
Japanese monkeys in Yakushima have been studied
without any provisioning. Students habituated monkeys
to human observers and have succeeded in observing themat close distances in the forest. Various topics of behavior,ecology, and population genetics have been studied, mainly
by young researchers.
The density of monkeys is quite high in the lowland forest of Yakushima, our main field site on the island. Monkey
groups in this area are hostile to each other, probably because
the competition for food resources is severe between groups.
We sometimes see aggression when two groups encounter
each other (Sugiura et al. 2000). Both groups face the opponent group, forming a line of monkeys in the front. Whensome monkeys rush to
the front, the monkeysof the other groupchase them away. Suchinteractions may continue for more than 30
minutes. In this study
site, we have observedsome groups go exField excursion for local residents in ourstudy site in Yakushima

tinct. Some groups became very small in size and finally fusedto the adjacent group (Sugiura et al. 2002). In contrast to thehostility against the other groups, monkeys appear relatively
tolerant of their own group members. Group members stayclose to each other, e.g., when they are grooming. They may
need to make friendships within the group to fight together
against the opponent group.
Other animals, such as Japanese deer and insects, as well as
plant ecology, have been studied actively at this site.
Yakushima Island was designated as World Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1993, the first time in Japan. Since then,eco-tourism has grown to be a major business on the island.
Not only professional guides, but also local citizens have developed more interest in nature on the island. We launched a Society of Yakushimaology, meaning of the study of Yakushima,
together with local people, local government and scientists.
We have an annual meetingand publish an annual society journal. Currently, we aretrying try to share traditionaland scientific knowledge ofYakushima Island between local people, local schools, localorganizations and scientists.
We visited an old village built
References
Sarabian C.Macintosh A. J. (2015) Biol Lett, 11.
Sugiura H. et al. (2000) Int J Primatol, 21.
Sugiura H. et al. (2002) Int J Primatol,, 23.

in the mountain about 60 years
ago as an excursion of the Society of Yakushimaology

25Conservative physiology
in wildlife study:

Hormonal approaches to conserve endangered species

Kodzue KINOSHITA
Research object
Snow leopard, etc

CAB

UV meterto check the UV level
where I collect scatGPSto record the place
and altitude where I
collect the scat

Tube and bag
to collect scat samples forthe hormone analysis

26

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Keywords
reproduction, comparative physiology,
non-invasive hormone assay

Kyrgyz RepublicT

Notebook and pen
I record all, e.g.
place, altitude, time,state of scat.

D

hus far, behavior observations, camera trapping, genetic
study, and other methods have provided abundant information on the ecology of many species. Although monitoring approaches using these techniques have estimated thediet and populations of species, few studies have focused oninternal changes. Hormones, which are physiologically active
substances, adjust to the internal and external environmental changes experienced by animals. Hormones enable us toknow the invisible physiological states of animals and the effects of their surrounding environment. One such presumed
response is the physiological “stress response”.
Recently, stress has become a study focus in conservation
biology. Animals experience two kinds of stress: acute stress,
such as predator attacks that typically last only a short period of time, and chronic stress, suchas long-term climate change and/or starvation that last a long periodof time. Usually, stress can be monitored by the adrenocortical hormone
concentration in scat, which we canobtain non-invasively from animals.
However, in scat, hormones accu- Scat of snow leopard

Role of hormones

My research objective

Environment

Captive

habitat and captive condition, season etc.
Hormone, which are the physiologicalactive substances, adjusts to the internaland external environmental changes.

Social structure

Animals and the external environment
are connected via their brain, andthe hormone plays a roleas its transmitter substance.

Physiology(individual)
physical condition, nutritional status,
disease and reproductive state, etc.

The hormone enables
us to know their invisible
physiological state and theeffects of the environmentthat surrounds them.

mulate until evacuation, and acute hormone elevations aremasked. Hence, we mainly focus on chronic (prolonged),rather than acute stress in the hormonal study of wild animals.
Non-invasive hormone monitoringin captivity provides valuable data for wildlife study

Hormone research began in the 20th century. It has
evolved from the research of laboratory animals to endangered animals in zoos, and it presents the opportunity to use
noninvasive and indirect samples (ex. animal feces, urine, andhair). Such noninvasive analytical methods have been applied
to wild animal research since the 21st century. However, hormone analysis is an analytical method that digitizes physiological phenomena invisible to the eye. Of course, studies toinvestigate the relationships of these data with visible changes,
such as estrus behavior, pregnancy state and other morphological changes, do exist. But as mentioned above, hormones
are physiological trace substances that regulate the internal
environment. In hormone studies focusing on wild animals
that are difficult to directly observe, it is extremely difficult tocorrectly examine what the obtained hormone values mean.
Therefore, it is important to obtain information about theWild

Connect

Housing condition(climate, social group etc.)

Habitat condition(Habitat distraction, Human-conflict etc.)

Captive individuals who enable a highsampling frequency and provide fresh
samples for valuable data collection.
Through hormonal analysis, I estimate the snow leopard's physiologicalstate and the effects of the environment that surrounds them.

monitoring result in hormone concentrations in the study animal and to compare it with other results as much as possible.
Furthermore, it is difficult to set a reference value for hormone
analysis. For example, there are individual differences in stresslevel, and even if values deviate compared to other individuals, they are not necessarily abnormal values. To accurately
evaluate the value, it is important to obtain information on
how hormone concentrations change in captive individuals.
Captive individuals enable a high sampling frequency, andfresh samples provide valuable data. I have been collaboratingwith more than 8 Japanese zoos for a study on the physiological monitoring of snow leopard (Panthera uncia). For over
five years, I have monitored in detail the stress level (cortisol)and the reproductive state (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) in captive snow leopards by fecal hormone analysis.
My study suggests that the environment surrounding captivesnow leopards (housing condition) can effect a change in theirstress levels and that stress can suppress female estrus levels.
From these results, I have confirmed that the measurement offecal hormone concentration is a useful tool in estimating thephysiological state of snow leopards.
27

Field site in Kyrgyz Republic(Shamshy Wildlife Sanctuary)

The challenge of hormonal analysis
for wildlife conservation

An animal is connected to the external environment (e.g.,social environment, habitat environment) via its brain, andhormones play an important role as transmitter substances. In other words, when the external environment changes,
hormones are secreted to adjust the internal environment inresponse. Therefore, hormone analysis is a useful tool thatenables researchers to know an animal’s physiological state
under various environments. Recently, I have tried to apply
hormonal analysis to wildlife conservation by monitoring thestress level of wild snow leopards to estimate the conditions of
their external environment.
Snow leopards inhabit highlands with rugged terrain in 12
Central Asian countries. In such places, it is thought that they
have a wide home range, e.g. from 20 to 400 km2 depending
on prey density, and the density of snow leopard is estimated to be ca. 1 to 8 individuals per 100 km2 (though, in fact,a basic understanding of their ecology remains unclear). As
one of the supposed reasons for why they have such a widehome range, it is suggested that the diversity and abundanceof prey animals are generally low due to the barren nature ofmost snow leopard habitat. In Kyrgyz Republic, it is estimated that snow leopards inhabit about 89,000 km2 and that the
population is around 300–350 individuals. This population
estimate decreased from an earlier number of ca. 650 due towidespread poaching in the 1990s following the breakup of
the Soviet Union.
The main threat to snow leopards is poaching, and the28

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glancepoaching of ungulates (i.e. argali and ibex) also indirectly
contributes to lower snow leopard densities because these ungulates are their main prey animals. In some nature reserves
and national parks of Kyrgyz Republic, the hunting of ungulates is limited and only allowed in assigned areas under a new
hunting law established in 2014. Community-based hunting
conservancies have aimed at rehabilitating ungulate populations through the regulation of subsistence hunts and trophy
hunts. On the other hand, outside of nature reserves, hunting
is ongoing, and there are concerns about its negative effecton snow leopards. For sustainable human activity (hunting),
it is imperative to estimate the effects of the hunting of snow
leopard prey animals on snow leopard conservation. As mentioned above, I have confirmed, based on results from captivesnow leopards, that the measurement of fecal cortisol concentration is a useful tool to estimate stress level. Hence, I surmisethat the method is also useful for monitoring the physiological state of wild snow leopards, and I have been collaboratingwith NPOs (The Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan and
the Snow Leopard Trust) in thisregard. This study will contributeto measuring the effect of established conservation plans andsustainable hunting activities.

Footprints of a snow leopard

Networking for the conservation andsustainable use of
Ghanaian native livestock and wildlife

Boniface Baboreka KAYANG

In April 2008 I had the opportunity to conduct research at the Wildlife Research Centre (WRC) of
Kyoto University as a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) post-doctoral research fellow. In
2009, we signed our first MOU between WRC and my
College at the University of Ghana and began research
activities that attracted interested researchers fromother universities within Japan to join the collaboration.
The expanded network of collaborators made it possible
to successfully execute a JICA-sponsored project called
the “Ghana Grasscutter Project” aimed at enhancing
livelihoods of poor rural farmers through grasscutter
production. Because of our remarkable achievements
and the tremendous support received from the leadership of both institutions in Japan and Ghana, the MOU
was finally upgraded from Center-College level to Kyoto University-University of Ghana level in 2017.

Why is the conservation of Ghanaian wildlife andlivestock needed?

Ghana has a population of about 28 million people
that is growing at a rate of 2.5% per annum, and nearly half of the people depend directly on livestock fortheir livelihood. However, livestock products accountfor only 35% of the meat consumption as many people

depend heavily on bushmeat. The rising hunting pressureand decline in original habitat, exacerbated by human population growth in settlements near forests, have triggereda continuous decrease in wildlife abundance and diversity.
The hunting methods used include bush burning and poisonous baits which cause environmental degradation andwildlife destruction. Native livestock breeds are also disappearing. Though well-adapted to the local climate andfeed and resistant to diseases and parasites, native breeds
are characterized by low productivity, so farmers prefer tokeep more productive exotic breeds to satisfy the demandsof an ever-increasing population. If we can increase theefficiency and availability of native livestock, we can preserve our wildlife. In this regard, we are working on threepromising livestock species notably grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) and guinea fowl (Numida melagris),which are native to Ghana (and indeed West Africa), andlocal chicken (Gallus gallus). Although we have done somework to characterize the genetic diversity of Ghanaian local chicken and guinea fowl, in this presentation I will focus on the grasscutter.
Collaborative efforts to improvegrasscutter production in Ghana

The grasscutter is a hystricomorph rodent that inhab-

29

30

Local chicken (Gallus gallus)

Guinea fowl (Numida melagris)its mainly Sub-Saharan Africa and its meat is a delicacy
among most people in this region, making it the highest
consumed bushmeat. It is hunted in the wild using techniques that are sometimes detrimental to the environment.
Due to its short history of domestication, a lot of researchin the fields of genetics, nutrition, physiology, husbandry
and health still needs to be carried out on this species inorder to make it fully amenable to rearing in captivity.
In our research we developed microsatellite markers
and SNPs. We then analyzed the genetic diversity of grasscutters from various agro-ecological zones of Ghana basedon our microsatellites and mitochondrial D-loop sequences, finding the populations to be highly diverse. We alsosequenced the digesta of wild grasscutters to determine
the species composition of plants eaten in the wild andconfirmed that Poaceae (grasses), which formed the major component of all digesta samples, was the most preferred diet of grasscutters. We are currently screening forpossible pathogenic and probiotic bacteria in grasscutters

as well as conducting genome sequencing to find loci for
economic traits, such as tameness and litter size.
In 2014 we launched the Ghana Grasscutter Project titled, “Enhancing Livelihoods in Ghana through Improvement in Native Livestock Production”, to promote domestication and rearing of grasscutter under the supportof JICA. The concept of the project was that improving
livestock production could be an alternative to wildlife
consumption and would be useful for sustainable foodproduction and natural resource management in the Upper-West Region, the poorest region of Ghana. Beneficiary
farmers were supported with breeding grasscutters, cages
and technical skills for rearing. By adopting the “pass-on
the gift” approach, some offspring from successfully reproduced grasscutters were retrieved and given to new
farmers. Livelihood surveys were conducted on selectedhouseholds to ascertain the impact of the project andcommunity schools were educated on the importance ofgood nutrition and environmental conservation. ThroughWildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glanceGrasscutter(Thryonomys swinderianus)

workshops, farmers were equipped with skills for various
methods of processing to enable them add value to theirgrasscutter meat product. In addition, basic research involving genotyping, grasscutter nutrition, and health was
carried out with the participation of graduate students
to build capacity for the future. Women were also empowered by giving them grasscutters to rear. Through thisproject, the number of grasscutters reared in this region
increased from zero to over 300.
To ensure sustainability of the project beyond the JICA
funding period, an NGO named Grasscutter Initiative for
Rural Transformation (GIfT) was established in 2016 tooversee critical aspects of the project. GIfT successfully
won its first grant, awarded by Ajinomoto Foundation
International Nutrition (AIN). The AIN project aims to
improve livelihoods of resource-poor smallholder farmers
through sustainable grasscutter rearing based on athree-fold benefit: 1) supply of readily available gamey
meat to satisfy animal-source protein requirements ofresource-poor rural households and curb malnutrition; 2)
serve as a source of regular income; and 3) contribute toenvironmental and wildlife conservation through reduction
in hunting. This project will further train and monitor
more beneficiary farmers, continue offering education onbalanced diet, conduct livelihood surveys, and sequence
the grasscutter genome.
The next step of our project in Ghana

Our joint collaborative efforts have led to a successful
uptake of grasscutter production in the Upper West region of Ghana. However, there is the need to expand toother communities. In the near future, a collaborative effort for comprehensive breeding programs for local livestock species, especially the grasscutter, will be necessary
to increase animal protein supply. The author gratefully
acknowledges Kyoto University for providing a congenial
platform, as well as JSPS, JICA and Ajinomoto Foundation
for the needed funding, to undertake this work.

31

Antimicrobial propertiesof Tanzania honey in relation
to vegetation types

Victor Alexander Mwijage KAKENGIA

pis mellifera and Trigona meliponini (stinging
and stingless honeybees) (Plate 1) provide
ecosystem services by pollinating flowers ofplants that eventually result in the food that we eat everyday. Through this provisioning of ecosystem services, theygather plant nectar, then modify it, store it in the comb,
and transform it into honey by the processes of regurgitation and evaporation.
For thousands of years (since 2100 BC), ancient Greeks
used honey as a traditional food and healing agent.
Honeys contain carbohydrates, enzymes, hydromethyl
furfurals (HMF), proteins, minerals, amino acids, vitamins
and antioxidants, including phenolics and flavonoids. Its
health benefit is associated with the presence of thesevaluable nutrients and phytochemicals.
Medical properties of Tanzanian honey

Plate 1: Stinging (Apis melifera) (upper) and Stingless(Trigona melaponini) (lower) honeybees

32

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

The overarching objective of this research was to determine the medicinal properties of Tanzanian honey collected in various areas with different vegetation types.
The sugar and water content of each honey was determined, and antimicrobial activities were tested using
four pathogenic microorganisms, namely Staphylococcus
aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Results showed that all honeys were acidic with pH

Plate 2: Microbial growth inhibition zone by Tanzania
stinging honey collected from various areas

ranging from 4.05 to 4.8. Area, vegetation type, and theirinteractions significantly (df = 47, F = 454, P = 0.0001)
affected the antimicrobial activities of honey. Gairo honey,
made by bees who foraged on A. digitata and A. malvaceae, significantly inhibited the growth of both bacteria (E.
coli 26.5mm, S.aureus 35.5mm and S. typhi 27.5mm) andfungus (C. albicans 30.5mm) (Plate 2).

the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), forfinancial support of the study. The cooperation of beekeepers and their permission to collect samples is exceptionallyappreciated. Gratitude goes to Ms. Josephine Mapunda(NM-AIST) for excellent microbiology work and to Theodora
Ngowi and Winni Makata for sample preparation.

Introduction of
Honey quality and composition
depend on vegetation types

Similarly, honey from Manyoni (Baphia massaiensis,
Baphia burtu, Raphia pruinoides and pseudoprosopsis
fischeri), Morogoro (Eastern Arc forests), Kisarawe (E.
bicompacta), Itigi (Baphia massaiensis, Baphia burtu, Raphia pruinoides and pseudoprosopsis fischeri), Dodoma(Brachystegia spp., Julbernadia spp and Isoberlinia spp.),and Dodoma (sunflower and A. digitata) resisted bacteria and fungus growth. It was concluded from the study
that honey quality and composition highly depend on thevegetation type available in an area. Human activities that
results in deforestation for any reason affect honey composition and quality.
The authors are very grateful to Kyoto University, through

The Tanzania
Wildlife Research Institute(TAWIRI)The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) has an
overall responsibility of CARRYING OUT, COORDINATING and SUPERVISING wildlife research in Tanzania. The
mission of the Institute is to conduct and oversee wildlife
research in the country, provide quality data and information that will enable the management authorities and theGovernment to better manage and conserve wildlife, andto raise public awareness of the same. To fulfill its mission,
TAWIRI collaborates with various institutions, both nationallyand internationally. The Wildlife Research Centre (WRC) of
Kyoto University in Japan is among the collaborating international institutes. In the course of collaboration, I had an
opportunity to visit the WRC and conduct research for a period of 90 days.

33Collaboration between
India and Japanon wildlife research

Raman SUKUMAR

T

he collaboration between Kyoto University (KU),
Japan, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India, on wildlife research and training began in 2012
with funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science (JSPS) and co-funding from various sources, especially the Ministry of the Environment and Forests, to IISc.
The two main departments involved were the Wildlife Research Centre (WRC, KU) and the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES, IISc). The major goal of the collaboration was
to provide a platform for student exchange on field andlaboratory research on large mammal ecology, behaviour
and conservation.
While the Indian Institute of Science is India’s oldest
major research institution, established in 1909, the Centre for Ecological Sciences was established in 1983 as thefirst Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests. Since then it has grown into a premier centre for high-quality research and teaching in the disciplinesof ecology and evolution, encompassing diverse aspectsof animal behaviour, tropical forest ecology, plant-animal
interactions, molecular ecology, mathematical ecology,
marine ecology, human ecology and climate change. The
present strength of the centre is 12 academic faculty andover 60 doctoral students.

34

Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University at a glance

Dhole (Indian wild dog) (photo by Shuta SAWAGURI)

Students of IISc visit Kyoto University andthe Yakushima Field Station

Over this period of seven years, 14 students from theIndian Institute of Science have visited Japan for training
in field and laboratory methods at Kyoto University and its
field site at Yakushima Island. They have described theirexperience as a good mixture of serious work and fun.
Highlights of the joint research

The research carried out by students from India andJapan under the joint programme has focussed on two
wildlife species, the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and the Asianelephant (Elephas maximus).
Shuta Sawaguri was the first student to take advantageof this programme by conducting a study on vocalizationof the dhole in the tropical dry forests of Mudumalai.
Their calls could be divided into 13 call types, including
the “Whistle” call, which has the highest sound pressure.
When captive dholes hear the Whistle call, they point tothe call direction and/or whistle back, but only to the Whistle calls from invisible pack members. In the observation of
the wild animals in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, whistle calls
were only recorded when the pack stayed in the bush withpoor visibility. These results suggest that the whistle callis a type of medium- to long-distance contact call among

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

pack members.
Kaori Mizuno executed a short-term study on decision-making by elephant social groups in risky situations,carried out during road-crossings at Mudumalai National
Park in India. This study found that experienced, older individuals (adult female elephants) entered the road first to
protect and guide the less experienced subadult and juvenile individuals on busier roads with heavy traffic.
Nachiketha Sharma is pursuing work on characterizing
various types of vocalization by Asian elephants and their
possible behavioural context. The study mainly aims to understand short-distance communication in Asian elephants,
with a special emphasis on the use and role of ‘rumbles’(low-frequency sounds) among wild Asian elephants.
Additionally, we have been pursuing joint research on
the genomics of Asian elephants with Dr. Takushi Kishida (KU) and Dr. Yoshihito Niimura (Tokyo University), witha special focus on understanding olfactory genes in elephants using whole genomic sequencing.
Annual meeting: a place to enhance partnerships

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the collaborative
programme has been the annual symposium of all thepartner countries (Japan, India, Malaysia, and Brazil initially, followed by the addition of Indonesia, China, Tanzania
and the U.K.). The partners have taken turns in hosting
the annual symposium. It has been a fantastic experience
to visit the institutions and field research sites of the various partners and learn about their work and successes. At
the same time, the personal friendships built among theprincipal investigators from the partner countries, as wellas among the students who participated in the program,
have enriched our lives immensely.
The meetings at Kyoto have invariably provided a richcultural experience in this unique city. The visit to INPA
at Manaus, Brazil, was accompanied by an unforgettablecruise along the mighty Amazon, sighting the botos (dolphins) and witnessing the confluence of the black and thewhite waters. In Malaysia, the trip to Taman Negara was a
nostalgic reminder of my earlier visit to this great nationalpark over three decades ago. Perhaps, the best was reserved
for the once in a lifetime experience in Tanzania – spending
an hour with the chimpanzees at Gombe, the site of Jane
Goodall’s pioneering research. I personally look forward
to more engagements with the partners of this productive
collaboration initiated by the Wildlife Research Centre of
Kyoto University, and I wish the centre success and growth
as it goes beyond the first decade of its establishment.

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