Kansai Window: Kansai farmers stunned and annoyed by monster Nutria rats
Driving westward on Route 9 from Kyoto City, you can find a pond at the foot of a mountain at the northeastern tip of Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. Walking along the wintry-scene pond, you will encounter 60-centimeter-long monster rats: nutria, whose scientific name is Myocastor coypus. The mammal was brought to Japan during World War II as one of military supplies. Hated as if they were war criminals during postwar years, nutria have now made themselves a nuisance. They are said to be breeding fast and widely in the Kansai area. Given that its furs can be used for military winter clothing and that its meat can be used for food, however, 150 nutria were imported into Japan in 1939. As of 1944, a total of 40,000 nutria were reportedly being raised in Okayama, Tottori, Hyogo and northern Kyoto prefectures...more...
