How Many Animal Lives Has the Fukushima Evacuation Zone Claimed?

It was one disaster after another when Japan was slammed in early March by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. The earthquake caused a tsunami that swept away homes and lives. Explosions and leaks at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station led to what’s been called the world’s largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

When the community surrounding Fukushima was evacuated, people were given very little warning that they had to clear out. They had no time to prepare, and shelters weren’t set up accommodate animals. As a result, countless animals were left behind to fend for themselves. Linda Wolfe, Program Associate for Born Free USA, explained that, “Unfortunately, Japan is now learning what New Orleans learned with Katrina regarding the non-existent contingency for animal evacuation.”

According to Wolfe, the Japan Anti-Vivisection Association believes that nearly 675,000 farm animals lived in the evacuation zone, and the number that survived could be as few as 1,000 or less. It’s unknown how many companion animals were left behind, or how many are still alive.

For the first few weeks, residents and rescue groups were allowed to enter the evacuation zone at their own risk. That meant some animals received some care, but they couldn’t be taken out of the zone. Then, on April 22, the Japanese government enacted a strict “Do Not Enter” policy, complete with barricades and military guards. A few groups and individuals snuck in to care for the animals, but it was a risky proposition.

“These animals have basically been on their own since April 22,” Wolfe says. “Time is running out, if it hasn’t already.”

On May 10, the Japanese government eased the barricades a little bit. While some media outlets reported that people were allowed back in and animals were receiving care, the truth is a little less optimistic. Residents have been allowed to go in for two hour increments, but only a handful at a time, and only when it’s their village’s turn.

“This is going to be a very slow process," Wolfe said. "It would take several weeks/months for everyone to be allowed back and the animals still surviving need immediate help — they don’t have several weeks."

There are a number of problems with this process besides the timeline. With so many of the surviving animals now roaming free, it will be hard for people to find their companions with such a short time allotment.

Farm animals aren’t included in this plan at all, and residents still aren’t allowed to bring their animals out of the evacuation zone. Instead, they’re being told to tie up or crate their animals outside, where government officials can collect them in a day or so. And if they don’t come by? The suffering will continue.

Several groups are standing by, ready to help, and they have been since Day One. Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support is a collaboration of local no-kill animal rescue organizations that’s also supported by Kinship Circle and Last Chance for Animals. International Fund for Animal Welfare had been on the ground, too, working with local leaders on a plan to evacuate the animals. Many smaller groups, local and international, and concerned individuals are ready and waiting, but there's little they can do until the evacuation zone is opened up.

Helping animals affected by the Fukushima disaster doesn’t need to come at the expense of helping people; the Japanese government just needs to allow it to happen. And it needs to happen soon.

Photo credit: akk_rus