Hawaii’s Invasive Species

The Hawaii Islands archipelago is one of the most isolated places on planet Earth.  Located almost at the center of the Pacific Ocean, it is the home of many animal and plant species that are found nowhere else in the world.  And, similar to other isolated island environments, the Hawaiian Islands are especially vulnerable to invasions of non-native species because the invaders usually face no natural predators, and they fiercely compete with native species for food and habitat. 

In order to prevent the further demise of native species of plant and animals, the State of Hawaii devotes what resources it can to intercept arrivals of non-native species at Hawaii’s ports of entry. In September, the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Branch held an open house to educate the public about some of Hawaii’s current invasive species threats. 

In the entrance lobby, there were glass showcases with displays of preserved non-native plants, reptiles, insects and even small mammals – judging from the condition of the preserved specimens, I would say that they had been confiscated many years in the past.

Walking deeper into the facility, part of the office had been converted into a temporary display room.  Poster displays explained the most current invasive threats such as the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle which feeds on plants such as coconut trees and palm trees.  It is feared that the beetle could cause the loss of large numbers of Hawaii’s palm trees, many of which are planted in the state’s popular resort areas.  A landscape of dying palm trees would damage Hawaii’s image as a tropical paradise and cause great economic loss to Hawaii’s tourism industry.

There were also a number of living animals on display, some of which had been confiscated from people who had brought them into Hawaii as pets.

Bearded Dragon (Pogona spp.)

This lizard is native to Australia and males can grow to a length of 2 feet long.  (Females grow to about 20 inches.)  This animal is legal to possess in some states in the US, but illegal in Hawaii.  If allowed into the wild, it would have no natural predator and could threaten native species of insects, invertebrates and birds.

Ball Python (Python regius)

In recent years, confiscated specimens like this Ball Python have occasionally popped up as surrendered pets.  The only snakes which are supposed to be found in Hawaii are sea snakes and the tiny Island Blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus).  The small blind snake is usually less than 8 inches, and was first spotted in 1930 on the grounds of what is now known as the Bishop Museum.  It is thought that the snakes arrived in Hawaii as stowaways in the soil surrounding potted trees which were imported from the Philippines for landscaping.  While the tiny blind snake has already spread to all of the main Hawaiian Islands and is deemed harmless, the state is very serious about keeping additional snakes out of Hawaii.  When one considers the environmental havoc that the introduction of the Brown Tree Snake (Boiga Irregularis) has caused in Guam, Hawaii’s high level of vigilance is easy to understand. If a Ball Python were to escape and reproduce in Hawaii's forests, the results would be catastrophic.

Piranha (Pygocentrus spp.)

Native to South America, the Piranha is famous for its sharp teeth and aggressive feeding habits.  For some fish enthusiasts, that aggressive nature makes the fish even more attractive, and many will ignore the law to raise them illegally.  Many years ago, we were told to not worry too much about piranha in Hawaii's waters because the South American piranha supposedly could not survive the colder freshwater temperatures of Hawaii’s lakes, streams and ponds in the winter.  But, with the advance of global warming, I wonder if piranha thriving in Hawaii’s bodies of fresh water might be just a matter of time.

Tarantula (Theraphosidae spp.)

These creatures are usually brought into Hawaii as pets.  They have no local predators, and if they established in Hawaii, they could cause great impacts on Hawaii’s endemic insect populations.

Red-Tailed Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus)

This native of South America is very popular as a pet, but because it can grow to over 3 feet long in the wild, it would cause great damage to native fresh water animals if it were to establish itself in Hawaii’s streams.  It is now illegal for the public in Hawaii to possess this fish.

Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma grandis)

Native to Madagascar, this gecko is a popular pet.  Unauthorized releases have allowed this animal to establish itself in some parts of Oahu Island.  Growing up to 12 inches, it is feared that further spread of this animal will cause damage to native invertebrates and insects, and possibly even to small birds and eggs. 

Coqui Frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui)

This Puerto Rico native is suspected of entering Hawaii as an accidental stowaway on shipments of tropical plants.  Even today, the worst infestations of Coquis reportedly occur in agricultural areas near where tropical plants and flowers are produced.  Although very small (maximum size about 2 inches) the males have a very loud mating call which sounds like a bird-like chirp.  (The calls of a group of Coquis were once measured to be 80 to 90 decibels at a distance of one foot.)  Local residents say that these loud mating calls are a nuisance that makes it difficult to sleep.  The Coqui hides itself in leaves during the day making them difficult to find and are apparently much easier to discover at night when they are chirping.  With no natural predators to control their numbers, increasing numbers of Coquis cause decreases in the numbers of insects (including plant pollinators) which results in less food for Hawaii’s native birds.  Intentionally transporting, harboring, or importing Coquis with the intent to propagate, sell, or release them is a serious violation of Hawaii State law.

Kinosaki Marine World

Kinosaki Marine World is located in a fairly remote part of Hyogo Prefecture on the coast facing the Japan Sea.  Getting to the area requires a relatively long 3-hour train ride from Osaka or Kyoto, and many of the visitors to Kinosaki Marine World are tourists who are staying, or have stayed, at one of the Japanese “Ryokan” Inns in the famous Kinosaki Onsen (Hot Springs) resort area.  It is said that people have been traveling to the Kinosaki area to use the hot springs for over 1300 years.  And while Kinosaki Marine World isn’t quite that old, information on the internet indicates that the attraction has reached a respectable age of 82, having originally opened in 1934.  Looking at the present facilities, with their large acrylic windowed tanks and large concrete walls, it is obvious that the facility has seen significant renovation and updating within the last decade or so.  Kinosaki Marine World is divided into a series of sections, and I will discuss the sections in the order they are listed in the facility pamphlet.

Sea Zoo

After entering Marine World, visitors first enter the “Sea Zoo” building.  This structure houses the various themed tanks that visitors usually associate with an “aquarium”.  Immediately inside the entrance is a replicated environment of the Japanese Giant Salamander. 

In the center of this building was a 3-story tank that replicated an underwater rock cliff formation.  The tank had a fairly simple industrial design with exposed steel support beams.  Perhaps not a work of art, but quite functional.

Adjacent to the tall tank was a series of smaller themed displays representing different types of aquatic environments.  Some of them were quite attractive and colorful.  Others were simple and sparse.

This King Penguin enclosure was a bit of a disappointment.  It was drab, small, and lacked any identifiable stimuli for the single inhabitant.  The enclosure for the Humboldt Penguins, located in a different part of the facility, was much larger.

The enclosure housing two walruses also seemed quite small.  It appeared to be about 10 to 12 meters from side to side, and about 3 to 4 meters from front to back. Since the two walruses were each over 2 meters in length, the area looked like it was much too small for the two giants.  I hope that they get taken out to the outdoor exhibit areas once in a while.

Dive

This area featured a small pool housing a dolphin that for some reason kept jumping and splashing water on the visitors close to the pool.

There was also a recreated tidal pool environment which featured a number of small touch pools housing small invertebrates.

The main attraction of this zone was the 600 yen “Dive Adventure” which featured a platform that was lowered into an area surrounded by a circular tank.  This, paired with video of underwater scenes projected onto surrounding screens, created the illusion of being submersed into the sea.

Tube

This zone featured a series of large enclosures under a large tent-like roof.  This area housed Stellar Sea Lions, Spotted Seals, California Sea Lions, and Humboldt Penguins.  The design of this area allowed natural light and outside wind to freely enter.

Stellar Sea Lions

Spotted Seals and California Sea Lions

Humboldt Penguins

Fishing & Aji Bar

This area featured a complex of fishing holes that were stocked with “Aji” (Horse Mackerel) about 10 to 15 centimeters in length.  Visitors could rent a pole and bait for 650 yen and catch as many fish as they wanted until their fishing line cut.  Immediately afterwards, they could take their catch to the “Aji Bar”, where for 50 yen per fish, the catch would be cleaned and deep fried into “Tempura”.  Perhaps this experience provides a certain amount of family fun, but seeing this consumption-heavy attraction felt quite strange since most aquariums that I have visited have usually promoted messages leaning more towards themes of animal conservation.

Sealand Stadium

This area was basically an amphitheater for dolphin shows.  The main pool did not appear to be particularly large, and side holding pools appeared to be rather small.  Dolphin shows continue to be very popular in Japan, despite international criticism of how wild dolphins are captured in Taijicho, Wakayama to be sold to aquariums throughout Asia.  The Taijicho controversy even led to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) temporarily suspending the membership of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) in April 2015.  WAZA later reinstated JAZA’s membership after JAZA’s member zoos and aquariums voted to refrain from buying dolphins caught in drive fisheries.  At the time, some Japanese aquariums argued that they could not survive economically without the Taijicho dolphins, and threatened to quit JAZA.  I do not know if any of the dolphins at Kinosaki Marine World were taken from the wild, but since the facility is still a member of JAZA, they have presumably stopped buying Taijicho dolphins.

Dolphin Tank

This zone was comprised of a single small pool in a darkened amphitheater.  The room looked like it was designed for shows demonstrating dolphins’ skills and abilities (or as some might say, “tricks”).  At the time of my visit, the tank was occupied by a mother and young calf (born in captivity), and signs explained that visitors were barred from the level immediately adjacent to the pool because the noise would distress the animals.  It was nice to see that the facility was giving the mother and calf peace and quiet, but the small size of the tank required that the animals basically swim around endlessly in tight circles.

Educational Efforts

There were many large, eye-catching educational signs and displays.  Unfortunately, the information on these signs was written primarily in Japanese, and the only “English” on these signs were the common names (for some of the animals) or the Latin scientific species’ names.

There were also a few interactive displays, including the touch tanks described above in the area next to the “Dive” attraction.

Opportunities for Animal Encounters

There were a number of pay-to-play events offered to visitors. There was a 10-minute “Dolphin Touch” experience for 500 yen which basically involved patting the dolphin’s nose.  A slightly more involved 15-minute “Dolphin Trainer” experience cost 1000 yen.  A 30-minute “Dolphin Swim” was also available for 5000 yen, but was limited to only 2 guests per day.  There was also an opportunity to take a photograph with penguins.

Food and Souvenirs

Besides the previously mentioned “Aji Bar”, there was also a stand selling broiled squid on a wooden skewer.  And, next to the “Aji Bar”, was a more orthodox “Seafood Restaurant” which served up modern Japanese favorites such as Udon, Seafood Donburi, and Fried Shrimps with Curry on Rice.  

The restaurant prices looked a little on the high side, which was not surprising considering the large number of visitors to Marine World and the relatively few dining options.  There was also a restaurant outside the entrance of Marine World, and visitors were allowed to get a re-entry ticket if they wanted to eat there.

The gift shop was of decent size and fully stocked with plush toys and other Marine-themed souvenirs.  There were a number of branded items, but the majority of merchandise was not specifically labeled with the Kinosaki Marine World name.

Getting There

From the closest train station, the JR Kinosaki Onsen station, the bus that goes to Kinosaki Marine World takes about 10 minutes and costs only 310 yen, but visitors should check the timetable because there are only a few buses per hour.  Catching a taxi in front of the train station is a simple matter, but I was told by a local person that the taxi ride to Kinosaki Marine World would cost 1800 yen, which seems somewhat expensive given the relative distance.  Admission for adults to Kinosaki Marine World was 2470 yen.  Children in elementary school and up to intermediate school got in for 1230 yen.  Children older than 3 years old, but not yet in elementary school, got in for 620 yen.

(Note: All photos taken in this post were taken during a visit on August 24, 2016.  The comments in this post are based on observations made on that day.  Conditions may have since changed.  Please check it out for yourself!)