Fukushima Activity Report (Nov-early Dec 2016)

Okuma and Futaba (nuclear power plant towns): 
1 .We are working with local residents to support the cats and dogs still living here. Both of these towns are filled with the wreckage of homes destroyed in the earthquake. Finally decontamination and trash removal have begun. We were surprised to see that the branches of pear trees in a local orchard had been cut. 
2. A cat we had seen near the ocean in Futaba recently reappeared some 6km away, near a home in Okuma. Joy replaced worry, and now we will try to capture this brave, hungry cat. 

Namie and Iitatemura (heavily contaminated areas)
1.	The area leading toward Iitatemura from Namie is a beautiful mountainous area, but radioactive contamination has rendered this scenic landscape inhabitable. The mountainside is ravaged, and wild animals roam freely; still there are dogs and cats struggling to survive in this inhospitable environment. Lately the traps we set to rescue cats end up with foxes inside of them. The cats have become more cautious, making it harder than ever to save them. 
2.	We are grateful to local residents who also help with food stations and water drinking areas for the animals. 
3.	We visited a recovering cow farm. These people also care for cats displaced by the disaster. We provided spay/neuter as well as simple medical treatment for cats who required it. 
4.	Starting in December, we also have begun making house calls to treat the numerous cats rescued by another Namie local resident.
5.	On one particularly cold day, we were able to rescue three cats. We hope to be able to go back and rescue the rest. We left feeling grateful and humbled by the hard work of local residents also working hard to protect those innocent lives left behind. 

English by Judy Howland