Blakiston's fish owl  (Ketupa blakistoni)

Habitat loss is the major cause of the decline in Blakiston's fish owl numbers that has been documented throughout its range (5). Logging of these old forests has been rife and continues to threaten remaining populations today. These owls are targeted by hunters in Russia as they are believed to spoil the fur of trapped animals (5). The depletion of fish numbers through overfishing is also a pertinent threat to this bird of prey (5).

Blakiston's fish owl is legally protected in all of the countries within which it is found, and occurs within a number of protected areas (2). On Hokkaido, nest boxes and supplementary feeding regimes have been in place since 1984 and a captive breeding and release programme is also underway (5). Without the provision of adequate habitat, however, these measures are ultimately ineffective (5). It has been suggested that a National Park should be created in northern Russia which could help to secure some of the habitat in this region (5).