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Animal-related consequences were not anticipated in disaster preparedness planning in Japan at the time of its massive earthquakes in 2011. Evacuation failure was quite common due to pet ownership in this disaster. Public attention to the welfare of affected animals in this disaster triggered an awareness of the importance of caring for their needs. However, research on human behavior toward pets or effect of pets on human during disasters remains sparse. In this study, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores among pet-owners and non-pet owners in Japan's 2011 earthquake disaster were compared, and attitudes toward pets were evaluated. A questionnaire was distributed to attendees, and interviews were performed at an annual animal welfare event. The Japanese-language version of the revised Impact of Event Scale was used to evaluate PTSD from the disaster. PTSD scores were higher in pet-owners compared to non-pet owners immediately after the earthquakes, but were lower in pet-owners compared to non-pet owners 4.4 years following the disaster. Most people opined that pets should evacuate with people, although less than half of non-pet owners agreed with having animals co-located at evacuation centers. In order to enhance safety and security of both humans and animals at evacuation centers, it is important to proactively address animal issues in disaster preparedness planning. Although pets were regarded by some as adverse risk factors for human health and safety during a disaster; this study instead suggests that pets may play an important positive and protective role for disaster victims.

Simple Summary: We evaluated the welfare of oriental small-clawed otters (OSOs; Aonyx cinereus) kept in cafés using non-invasive methods. Our assessment focused on the captive environment, utilizing husbandry standards employed in zoos. We surveyed five cafés that agreed to participate from February to April 2023. The results revealed inadequate water facilities in all cafés, with individual housing observed in over half of them. OSO cafés have the feature of disseminating information through customers. Therefore, it is crucial for cafés to rigorously uphold appropriate OSO husbandry conditions. This necessitates incorporating animal welfare concepts into laws regulating such cafés. Thorough management of OSOs in cafés can educate the public about the challenges of OSO ownership in households and potentially mitigate domestic demand for OSOs. Additionally, it is expected to contribute to deterring threats to OSO conservation, such as poaching. This study investigates the captive environments of oriental small-clawed otter (OSO; Aonyx cinereus) cafés in Japan, aiming to identify discrepancies with established welfare guidelines. Improved management of these commercial facilities could raise awareness about the difficulties of keeping OSOs as pets and enhance their welfare. Utilizing the role of commercial facilities in public outreach, we consider that the rigorous implementation of proper care practices in these establishments could help mitigate the increasing demand for OSOs domestically and contribute to the conservation of the OSO. In this study, we focused on the critical aspects of the captive environment necessary to maintain the psychological well-being of OSOs and evaluated the captive environments of OSOs housed in animal cafés for OSO welfare using non-invasive methods. Based on zoo husbandry standards, it was found that there were deficiencies in aquatic environments and solitary housing conditions; however, the enrichment tools aligned with the guidelines. The results suggest that deviations from the recommended elements in the environment of OSOs in captivity are associated with a tendency of these OSOs to develop various diseases. It is deemed necessary to amend the regulations governing animal-handling businesses to include welfare criteria, and it is considered essential for each establishment to operate only after ensuring sufficient welfare for the OSOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Morphological characteristics related to sex-age class in introduced species during the early invasion stages, before further environmental adaptation, may indicate important information regarding their adaptability. For raccoons introduced to different regions in middle Japan, the results of multiple linear regression on body length showed that males were larger than females and body length increased with age class, while there was no difference between regions. The cranial size, which indicated different allometry in each sex, regressed positively according to increasing age class, body length, and body mass index in both sexes; however, it only differed between regions for females. Therefore, our results supported the hypothesis that older individuals with larger body sizes have an advantage in intrasexual selection and competition for food resources in raccoons. Considering the fact that multiple subspecies are sympatric in North America and the morphometrics of introduced raccoons in Japan were inconsistent with any of them, it is likely that hybridization occurred prior to introduction or naturalization. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate subspecific hybridization and its impact on morphological and ecological changes. Although the genetic distribution of introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) in recent years is well known, few studies have examined their morphometrics, especially the relationships between sex and age in the introduced populations. The aim of this study was to describe the morphological characteristics of raccoons from parts of eastern and western Japan during their early invasion stages, focusing on the relationships between body length and the principal component of craniometrics, with region, sex, age class, body length, and body mass index using a regression model. The body length increased more in males than females and in the older age class, supporting the association with intrasexual selection and competition for food resources. Positive relationships for body length and body mass index were found in craniometric analyses, particularly regarding cranial size components, in addition to age class for both sexes, while cranial size also differed between regions for females. The relationship between body length and craniometrics was inconsistent with that of subspecies originating in North America. Given the sympatric distribution of haplotypes of multiple subspecies without reproductive-isolating barriers in North America and in several introduced areas, hybridization must have occurred prior to the introduction or naturalization of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection, meaning that the pathological agent is transmitted between animals and humans. Raccoons are known to be one of the vectors, and there is an increasing concern regarding the spread of pathogens in Japan with expanding distribution and population of raccoons. We detected leptospiral DNA and antibodies in captured raccoons, and the prevalence and seroprevalence rates differed depending on the dispersal period of raccoons, showing that young males may spread Leptospira with dispersal. Furthermore, raccoons were found to contain Leptospira during warm and rainy seasons, which are suitable for the survival of Leptospira and wild rodents. Raccoons in urban environments may be more exposed to Leptospira. Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that affects humans and animals worldwide. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), adopted in urban environments, may act as potential reservoirs of Leptospira. We investigated the prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira in the kidney and urine samples of raccoons living in Tokyo, as well as anti-leptospiral antibodies in their serum, and aimed to examine the factors that expose raccoons to Leptospira. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect leptospiral DNA and anti-leptospiral antibodies, respectively. Thirty-six of 156 raccoons (23.1%) were positive by PCR, and 16 of 165 raccoons (9.7%) were positive by ELISA. The prevalence and seroprevalence rates differed depending on the raccoon dispersal period. We used univariable logistic regression to estimate the environmental factors associated with pathogenic Leptospira and anti-leptospiral antibodies in raccoons. Significant differences were observed in the PCR results for the seasons (spring–summer) (p = 0.01), average monthly temperature (p < 0.01), and average monthly rainfall (p < 0.01). No significant difference was seen in the ELISA results, but raccoons in larger urban areas tended to have higher seroprevalence rates (p = 0.06). We identified a pattern of leptospiral spread in raccoon dispersal and environmental factors that expose raccoons to Leptospira. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the 10 years immediately after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, we measured the changes in the muscle 137Cs concentration (Bq/kg) of wild Japanese monkeys living in Fukushima City, which is located approximately 70 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The muscle137Csconcentration, which was observed at a maximum of 13,500 Bq/kg immediately after the accident, had decreased to several hundred Bq/kg 10 years later. The muscle 137Cs concentration was significantly related to the soil contamination levels (10,000–30,000, 30,000–60,000, 60,000–100,000, and 100,000–300,000 Bq/m2), sex, age class (immature, mature), body weight (> 5000 g, 5000–10,000 g, < 10,000 g), and seasons (the cold period from December to April, the warm period from May to November).The value of muscle 137Cs concentration and the aggregated transfer factor (Tag: calculated by dividing muscle 137Cs concentration [Bq/kg] by soil 137Cs deposition density at the capture site [Bq/m2]) apparently decreased with time for several years. However, post hoc pairwise comparisons showed no difference from 2017 to 2020, and the accumulation of 137Cs in muscle may continue for some time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]