Rare Salamander Larvae Discovered at Hokkaido Solar Project Site, Sparking Conservation Fears

Discovery of Siberian Salamander Larvae Sparks Concerns Over Solar Project Impact

A recent environmental survey has uncovered the presence of Siberian salamander larvae in wetlands near a proposed large-scale solar power project in Hokkaido. This discovery has raised significant concerns about the potential impact on the endangered species and the surrounding ecosystem.

The survey was conducted by the northern environmental research institute, led by director Fusayuki Kanda. The team was studying the wetlands, which are located south of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. The area is of particular interest because it is close to where an Osaka-based solar power company plans to build a "mega-solar" facility. While the region had previously been considered a possible habitat for the Siberian salamander, this is the first confirmed sighting of the species there, suggesting that the area might serve as a breeding ground.

The study focused on approximately 9.8 hectares of privately-owned land, situated south of the park's Hokuto archaeological site, a national historic landmark. With the landowner’s consent, the NPO environmental monitoring promotion network, which commissioned the study, identified two salamander larvae, each around 11 millimeters long, on May 22.

According to the group, the Siberian salamander's egg-laying season typically runs from mid-April to early May. Since the survey took place in late May, no egg sacs were found. However, Shigeharu Terui, the network’s director and a salamander researcher, noted that the area contains numerous water bodies suitable for breeding. He explained that spawning likely occurred more widely than the two larvae indicate. “If we can conduct surveys when egg sacs could be found, we should be able to better understand the population size and range,” he added.

The salamander’s range is believed to extend at least several hundred meters from the water where the larvae were found. Under Kushiro’s cultural property protection ordinance, any activity that could affect the preservation of cultural assets requires prior approval from the city’s board of education. Kanda, who also chairs the city’s environmental council, emphasized the significance of finding the Siberian salamanders at the planned development site for species conservation. He also highlighted serious concerns about the impact on the landscape.

The Osaka company planning the solar project has outlined 17 projects in the city, one of which would produce less than 1 megawatt. In a separate project near the newly confirmed salamander site, Hokkaido authorities recommended halting construction on September 2 due to a violation of the Forest Act. According to documents disclosed to local and national lawmakers, the company plans to install an approximately 2-megawatt solar facility on about 9.8 hectares, including the land where the larvae were found.

The company told the Mainichi Shimbun that it was unaware of the salamander’s presence, stating, “We did not conduct a survey because the Kushiro City Museum said the species was not present.” Regarding future construction, the company mentioned that since the wetland is also a feeding ground for red-crowned cranes and the city is working to introduce a permit system for large-scale solar facilities, it may be difficult to begin construction before the ordinance is enacted.

About the Siberian Salamander

The Siberian salamander is a cold-adapted amphibian, measuring about 11 to 13 centimeters in length. It is found across northern Eurasia and is confirmed only in specific regions of Japan, including the Kushiro Wetland, Kamishihoro, and Kunashiri Island in the Northern Territories. Known as a "glacial relict," its egg sacs glow blue-white in sunlight just after spawning, earning it the nickname "sapphire of the wetlands."

The species is designated as "class II" under the Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, prohibiting capture or transfer for commercial purposes. Kushiro has named it a natural monument, and the Environment Ministry classifies it as "Endangered IB" (high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future). This classification underscores the importance of protecting the species and its habitat, especially in light of the proposed solar project.