Studying the Wetlands
Regular surveys offer insight into the habitats of insects living in the Kushiro Wetlands. The staff of the Kushiro City Museum, wildlife experts, and local schoolchildren join the survey efforts every four years, demonstrating the importance of the wetlands to the community.
Since the surveys began in 1971, the participants have found 1,150 species of insects, including 46 dragonfly species and 84 butterfly species, many of which are displayed at the museum. The research played a role in the area being designated as a conservation site under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty to conserve wetland areas. The Kushiro Wetlands are part of Kushiroshitsugen National Park.