Nagano –
A 55-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly capturing an endangered butterfly within the Norikura Highlands of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, marking Japan’s first arrest involving the protected species.
The case occurred on the standard summer time resort on the foot of the Northern Alps and concerned the false heath fritillary, a butterfly distinguished by its vivid orange-patterned wings.
The investigation started after a close-by resident contacted the Environment Ministry to report that somebody was catching butterflies within the space.
The species is designated by the Japanese authorities as endangered and is protected beneath the Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Authorities stepped up patrols after receiving the report and located a suspicious man carrying an insect internet on July 21. A false heath fritillary was subsequently found inside his automobile.
Police arrested Masao Mizoguchi, a 55-year-old firm worker from Okayama Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the endangered species conservation regulation.
Mizoguchi was quoted as telling investigators, “I knew I was not allowed to catch it, but I wanted to because it is a valuable butterfly.”
Authorities mentioned the arrest was the primary in Japan involving the seize of a false heath fritillary.
Source: FNN