Home / Environment / Tokyo Crows Declared Victory: Population Down 80%
Tokyo Crows Declared Victory: Population Down 80%
10 Jan
Summary
- Crow population in Tokyo reduced to 20% of peak levels.
- Extermination efforts began in 2001 following increased complaints.
- Garbage amounts and crow-related complaints have significantly decreased.
Tokyo has achieved a significant reduction in its crow population, now at only 20% of the numbers recorded around the year 2000. These efforts began in earnest in 2001, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government implementing measures like netting garbage sites and trapping birds in response to widespread public complaints about scavenging and aggressive behavior.
The success is partly attributed to a decrease in available food sources, as garbage in Tokyo's wards fell from 3.52 million metric tons in fiscal 2001 to 2.45 million tons in fiscal 2024. This decline is linked to economic factors and the introduction of garbage fees.
Consequently, crow-related complaints have dropped to less than one-tenth of their peak. While the population is considered appropriate now, ongoing monitoring and countermeasures are planned to prevent a resurgence.
