Fears of ecological crisis as Okinawa’s wildlife falls prey to poachers

Wait 5 sec.

Hermit crabs, turtles and other species found only in Okinawa are vanishing from its beaches, as smugglers and souvenir-hunting tourists strip Japan’s southernmost islands of their unique wildlife.Researchers and conservationists say the growing number of poaching cases points to a mounting ecological crisis and warn that without stronger protections, some of these species could soon disappear altogether.James Reimer, who has lived in Okinawa for 18 years and is a professor of marine biology...