Abstract
We examined the Specified Wildlife Conservation and Management Plans (SWCMP) for sika deer (Cervus nippon) populations from 2002 to 2006 in 29 prefectures and one other area (Ohdaigahara) by a questionnaire survey, from June to September, 2006. The goals of these management plans were 1) to avoid extinctions of local populations, 2) to reduce conflicts between deer and humans, such as damage to agriculture and forestry, 3) to reduce deer population sizes, and 4) to conserve ecosystems. To implement these plans, population trends were monitored using the following indices: catch and sighting per unit effort, aerial surveys, spotlight surveys, block count method, pellet groups and pellet count methods. In 11 of the 30 areas implementing SWCMPs, deer population sizes were underestimated. Because of either underestimated population size or the expansion of deer distribution, population control via SWCMP has not been attained in most areas. For successful feedback management, it is necessary to establish an organization or system for evaluating the management plan scientifically at the prefectural government level. Cooperation between scientists and managers is also important for wildlife management. Lastly, one further problem to be solved is the large-scale management of deer populations distributed over plural prefectures.
