The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) has been protected by law since 1955 in Japan, because it was becoming rarer and approaching extinction. Thereafter, the serow population has increased gradually. The Japanese serow is thought to be a primitive relict species on the islands of Japan, and the geographical range of the serow has retracted upwards into the moun- tain forests to avoid contact with humans. Little was therefore known about these animals. However, increasing losses of forest habitat due to exploit- ation of the mountain forests or expanding cultivation by local foresters have...