A moreish proposal: Japan’s plan to control invasive species by turning them into food
- Snapping turtles, black bass and American crayfish are just some of the unwanted intruders getting the culinary treatment
- Yet chefs might have a harder time creating palatable dishes out of other non-native species such as fire ants, raccoons and anole lizards
Tired of fighting what seems to be a never-ending battle against non-native species of animals that are decimating local flora and fauna, a number of communities across Japan have come up with a simple solution: eat the invaders.
The prefectural government of Chiba, to the east of Tokyo, has been struggling for decades to contain a booming population of snapping turtles that have taken up residence in the marshes and paddies surrounding Lake Inba-numa.
Most of these turtles, which are not native to Japan, started out being bought as pets. When they became too big – an adult snapping turtle can weight up to 10kg, which is far from ideal for a small Japanese flat – their owners decided to release them into the wild instead of having them put down.
The result has been the creation of a breeding population of the turtles in northern Chiba, with the prefecture estimating that there are now 16,000 of the creatures in and around the lake.
The prefecture recently organised a weekend event during which dozens of captured turtles were turned into soup, boiled with garlic and ginger, and shared with the local community. Snapping turtle might not be a recognised delicacy in Chiba, but locals said it had the taste and texture of plump chicken.
