#Radioactive Japan: Wild Monkeys to Be Fitted with Dosimeter in Minami Soma, Fukushima to Study Radiation in Mountain Areas

Female monkeys in the mountain areas in Minami Soma City in Fukushima will be fitted with dosimeters so that the researchers at Fukushima University can collect data on radiation levels in the mountainous areas inaccessible to humans.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (5/6/2012):

東京電力福島第一原発事故による山林の放射能汚染の状況を把握するため、福島大の高橋隆行副学長（ロボット工学）の研究グループは、野生のニホンザルに首輪形の測定器を付けて放射線量を測る実験を今月中にも始める。

The research group headed by Takayuki Takahashi, vice president of Fukushima University (robotics) will fit wild Japanese monkeys with collars with dosimeters in order to study the radiation contamination in mountains and forests due to the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. The experiment will start this month.

放射線量の分布を明らかにし、除染作業に役立てるのが狙いだ。

The purpose is to map the radiation levels to assist in decontamination.

測定器は重さ３５０グラムで、線量計と全地球測位システム（ＧＰＳ）を搭載。サルの首に付けて山林に放し、放射線量と位置情報を収集する。現在、山林の放射線量は航空機で上空から測定しているが、サルに「代行」してもらうことで、山深い地区でも測定が可能になると期待している。

The collar weighs 350 grams, and equipped with dosimeter and GPS. The collar will be fitted around the neck of a monkey to collect information on air radiation dosage and locations. Currently, the radiation levels in mountains and forests are measured from the air. It is hoped that by "deputizing" the work to the monkeys the radiation measurement in the deep mountain areas becomes possible.

高橋副学長は、群れをつくって一定の縄張りの中で行動するサルの習性に着目。サルに線量計を装着すれば、一定エリアの放射線量の分布を把握できると考えた。群れからはぐれにくい雌ザルを捕獲して装着し、測定器は信号を送ると自動的に外れる仕組みになっており、２週間後に測定器を回収してデータを分析する。

Vice President Takahashi focused on the habit of monkeys to stay inside a territory as a group. If a monkey is fitted with dosimeter, it is possible to map the radiation levels within a certain territory. His group will catch female monkeys who are more likely to stay within the group and fit the collars. The collars will automatically come off after sending the signals, and they will be collected 2 weeks later for data analysis.

実験は、４月１６日に警戒区域が解除され、比較的放射線量が高い南相馬市南部で行う予定。測定器を付けたサルを順次増やしていき、広範囲にわたる放射線量マップの作成を目指す。

The experiment will be carried out in the southern Minami Soma City, which was inside "no-entry zone" until April 16 and has relatively high levels of radiation. As more monkeys become fitted with the collars, it is hoped that the wide-area mapping of radiation levels is possible.

高橋副学長は「山林の放射性セシウムは雨水の流れなどによって移動しやすく、汚染状況がつかみにくい。線量分布を知ることで野生動物の保護にも役立てたい」と話している。

Takahashi says, "Radioactive cesium in mountains and forests move with the flow of rainwater, and it is hard to fully understand the levels of contamination. By mapping the radiation levels this way, we hope to use it to protect wild life.

ICRP recommends that the radiation work be done under full understanding of the risks and full agreement among participants. Even though the communication between the species is not yet possible, I hope the monkeys will be rewarded with some contamination-free food.

Some of my Japanese twitter followers live in Fukushima Prefecture. One of them retweeted my tweet linking the article with his/her comment, "They can borrow my cat for radiation monitoring in the urban area." He/she lives in Fukushima City. The way he/she said it was resigned, slightly sarcastic maybe, and humorous. Sense of humor is a good thing to have, but I hope that person lives in a lower radiation area.

But where were these researchers last year? They could have done this last year. The only study on wild life last year in Fukushima was the study on birds in Fukushima by Professor Mousseau of University of South Carolina, and that result wasn't disclosed until February this year.

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