Assistant Professor Shitara captures photograph of Iriomote cat kitten on Iriomote Island
An Iriomote cat kitten is seen emerging from a gutter next to a roadway in Taketomi Town, Iriomote Island on June 30, 2019 (Photograph courtesy of Takuto Shirata)
July 10, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Recently, Assistant Professor Takuto Shitara of the Iriomote Station at the University of the Ryukyus Biosphere Research Center succeeded in photographing an Iriomote cat kitten.
Iriomote cats are Special Natural Monuments of Japan, peculiar to Taketomi Town on Iriomote Island.
They are nocturnal and generally do not appear to humans. Shitara said, “No one is more surprised than I am that such an opportunity arose.”
According to Shirata, the photograph was taken on June 30.
While he was driving he saw an adult Iriomote cat near a gutter on the other side of the road.
The cat quickly disappeared into the brush, but next, its kitten came out of a nearby gutter.
The kitten seemed to look for its parent, then made its way toward the brush.
Last year, traffic accidents involving Iriomote cats reached a record high of 9 incidents annually.
Shitara, who specializes in flora, said, “I will be happy if people who see the picture become more aware about the protection of nature.”
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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