Sakamoto (centre) at the office of the Range Forest Officer, Northeastern Range, Silonijan, Karbi Anglong East Division

Excerpts of interview of Masayuki Sakamoto, JWCS

Masayuki Sakamoto is the Secretary General of Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS) in Tokyo. A lawyer by profession, he started this group in 1990 to help wild animal protection efforts.

1. How did you start JWCS?
Sakamoto: In 1990, we started as a small group to study the philosophy of conservation focusing mainly on CITES issues. We considered the legal ivory trade, hawksbill shells, bear bladder, reptile skin and pet trade in small mammals like slow loris. We investigated the domestic trade of such products and participated in CITES meetings and reviewed Japanese legislation. That is how JWCS came about. In this process I met Vivek Menon in 1997 in Harare, Zimbabwe and this meeting was the start of my relationship with WTI.

2. When did you start funding WTI projects?
Sakamoto: In 2000 we started the Elephant Conservation Fund to protect elephants in Africa and Asia. India was one of the countries we chose to support. We also began to support India’s tiger conservation project. Our projects with WTI started around then.

3. What is the focus of this visit?
Sakamoto: This visit was important to assess the field situation concerning WTI’s work with elephants. I will be visiting Vidarbha to see tigers during the winter.

4. What projects are you undertaking in Japan?
Sakamoto: We are trying to save the small population of Iriomote cat that has only 100 remaining specimens in Japan. We are also examining the fatality of wildlife in train accidents in Japan and trying to learn from WTI’s experience in similar situations in India.

5. What similarities do you see between the conservation scenarios of Japan and India?
Sakamoto: There are some similarities, for example, rules and policies do not focus on wildlife interests and there is little public awareness on wildlife issues.

Photo: Masayuki Sakamoto