Comments on: The Chiburishima Tanuki Overpopulation Crisis: What Should Be Done?

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:19:18 +0000

Actually, the humans were there first. Chibu is the only island in the Oki Islands (the group of islands off the coast of Shimane Prefecture) that has tanuki. A few were brought there about 60 or 70 years ago by the mayor (or received as a present), but they escaped and spread all over the island. Now they are like a mascot of Chibu, but also a nuisance to everyone’s gardens. (I live on Chibu, btw.)

By: Micha

Micha — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:45:32 +0000

I suggest they send some to zoos over here in the US. I have never seen a live tanuki in person, and do now know of any zoos in the states that have them.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:21:05 +0000

Build a female tanuki robot, by painting some cardboard to look like a tanuki but with big long eyelashes that, will lure all the male tanuki in a tanuki-shaped crushing machine. Then make tanuki paste and spread it on toast.

By: schmitts

schmitts — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:36:49 +0000

Australia should send the troops to Chiburishima right now! The Sea Shepherd ship is already making its way to the island, from the Antarctic.

By: buratto

buratto — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:34:31 +0000

In my opinion, the best option is to let hunters shoot tanukis, but also introduce hunting seasons, so that their population doesnt go too low either. Introducing tanuki eating bear is the worst possible option, since it would destroy the ecosystem, and then it would be the bears who are overpopulated. It’s the same situation as in the rabbit case in Australia. In fact, introducing any kind of new animal alien to a region’s ecosystem is gonna destroy the balance. Thus the tanukis cannot be shipped to mainland, since in a while the situation would become the same there. And how do you expect to catch around 1500 tanukis? Much easier to let the hunters shoot some of them. Moreover, if nothing is done, it wouldnt be any better, since you wouldnt want a few couples of thousands of tanuki dogs wandering around your town

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:02:47 +0000

Just set up traps and sell them to china for a food filler or McDonalds

By: blanks

blanks — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:18:53 +0000

Maybe Korea would take some interest in making a sort of dish fromt these animals. (Canine family)

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:54:45 +0000

Can we get Hayden in a bikini?

By: david

david — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:55:42 +0000

We must stop the illegal slaughter of Tanukis by Japan! How could anyone want to kill such beautiful and intelligent animals? Lets send our own hunters to sabotage and document this barbaric practice.

By: Markus

Markus — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:12:29 +0000

Start a Pom Poko like war … that will get rid of the problem.
Unless you don’t have the balls …

By: hiru

hiru — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:12:12 +0000

this reminds me of one of ghibli’s animes called pom poko

By: Android

Android — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:11:53 +0000

Are they actually an inconvience to the islanders, then? I guess the thing I’d prefer to see happen is get them exported, but then again they’ll just breed to the same levels soon enough, I’d expect.

Perhaps they can use them to make actual wearable Super Mario Bros 3 Tanuki suits.

Although in the Tanuki were there first, I don’t see how humans have any right to force them off their land. That’s like aliens forcing us off our planet because they think we’re pests just because we’re lower lifeforms.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:20:44 +0000

The answer is so simple!

Taxidermy.

Market them as Hello Kitty’s new friend, and sell them at a premium price for a limited stock. They’ll be collectors items! Modern-age Beanie Babies, for god’s sake! We’ll be stinkin’ rich!

By: selma

selma — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:40:56 +0000

Eat Tanuki’s and stop hunting the whales and dolphins already!

By: Wes

Wes — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:14:22 +0000

Hire hunters to decimate them! Only way. Bringing other animals on the island would result in the same manner. If there are no higher enemies on the food chain, they’d multiply far too fast!

By: MK

MK — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:46:13 +0000

Bring back tanuki soup.

By: TofuUnion

TofuUnion — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:14:19 +0000

Introduce tanuki-eating wolves to the island like they did in the US at the Yellowstone National Park ! Or run a tanuki steakhouse.

By: majiimeaussie

majiimeaussie — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:52:45 +0000

Everywhere in Japan has its own local food / delicacy to draw in the tourists with their money to help the economy.

Tanuki burgers is the answer!!!

By: erGuiri

erGuiri — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:14:47 +0000

Mate with the tanuki. If you can’t beat them, join them.

By: VonSkippy

VonSkippy — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:54:46 +0000

It’s not rocket science, just shoot the varmints.

By: cat

cat — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:17:41 +0000

the answer is domestication! who wouldn’t want a pet raccoon dog?

By: D-San

D-San — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:13:39 +0000

Ship em to China! Payback baby!

(jk)