Species information
Scientific name: Pavo cristatus
Japanese name: インドクジャク
Chinese name: 孔雀、印度孔雀
English name: Indian peafowl
Origin: South Asia
Ecology and description
The peafowl in Okinawa Prefecture are an invasive species that became feral after escaping from captivity, where they were kept for ornamental purposes. Established populations currently exist on Miyakojima, Irabujima, Ishigaki, Kohamajima, Aragusuku, Yonaguni and Kuroshima, but not yet on Iriomote. The decline of lizards and butterflies on Kohamajima and Aragusuku is thought to be possibly related to predation by peafowl.
Peafowl are designated in Japan as an invasive alien species requiring urgent measures, and Okinawa Prefecture is removing them in various places to prevent their spread to Iriomote. On Miyakojima, the number captured (including eggs) exceeded 1,000 in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 (1,028 in fiscal 2024), and was 971 in fiscal 2025.
References:
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Invasive Species Database: Indian peafowl
Miyako Mainichi Shimbun: Indian peafowl captures exceed 1,000 for the second year in a row
Miyako Mainichi Shimbun: 971 Indian peafowl captured in fiscal 2025
Okinawa Prefecture: Indian peafowl control plan
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
