Wild animals

Feeding wildlife will cause significant damage to the local agricultural crops and the ecosystem. Therefore, Yakushima Town Ordinance prohibits feeding wild Yaku-monkeys. Unfortunately, the wildlife ecosystem on Yakushima (especially in Seibu-rindo Forest Path) has recently been affected by some people giving and scattering a lot of sweets to wild animals. If the current situation continues, wildlife will get a taste for human and lose their natural instinct.

Feeding wild yaku-monkeys are strictly prohibited under the Yakushima Town Ordinance and offenders will be fined 50,000 yen.

Yaku monkeys are a subspecies of the Japanese monkey and they are characterized by their small size and long hair. They are fluffier and smaller than the Japanese monkeys. They can be seen all over Yakushima especially on Seibu-rindo Forest Path because of the rich laurel-leaved forest. (Caution) When observing Yaku monkeys, do not disturb them and keep your distance.

The Yaku deer with its lovely eyes and small size are a subspecies of the Japanese deer. Their distribution extends over a wide range on Yakushima and can be seen easily in the cedar forest at altitudes over 1,000 meters, along the coast, Seibu-rindo Forest Path and even near villages.

Yakushima is where the greatest number of sea turtles come to lay their eggs in Japan. Nagata Beach is the largest area in the North Pacific for loggerhead turtles to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, the sea turtle ecosystem in Yakushima has been affected by the increasing number of visitors. Many sea turtles avoid beaches with people and bright lights.
 Another problem is people stepping on the nest packing the sand and making it difficult for the hatchlings to dig out. Nagata Beach is now protected during the nesting and hatching season.

• There are nighttime restriction periods for access / From May 1st to August 31(19:30 p.m-5:00 a.m.）
• There are rules for observing sea turtles on Nagata Beach, which visitors must follow. Catching sea turtles or collecting their eggs are strictly prohibited. Offenders will be punished.
• During the nesting season (5/1-7/31) Nagata Sea Turtles Association conducts sea turtle observing tours to avoid crowds and confusion on Nagata Beach. To see the sea turtles laying their eggs on Nagata beach, visitors need to make a reservation.