Fiji, Oct. 9 -- A 20-year partnership between the Japanese Government and local communities has successfully eradicated the Asian mongoose from Amami-Oshima Island, one of the four islands designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in southwestern Japan.

The eradication programme cost about JPY3.6 billion (about USD$24 million) and was officially declared successful in 2024, after 45 years since the first mongooses were released on the island.

About 30 mongooses were introduced to Amami-Oshima in 1979 to control venomous habu snakes and rats.

Instead, the mongoose became a major threat to the island's native wildlife, including the endangered Amami black rabbit.

Ichihito Yamamoto, a ranger at the Amami Wildlife Centre, said the mon...