Animals

Kagoshima has instituted "The Loggerhead Turtle Protection Ordinance" to protect Loggerhead turtles, which nest on the many beaches in the prefecture, most notably Fukiagehama Beach and Nagatahama Beach in Yakushima. In 2008, there were 9,443 confirmed turtle sightings.

Every year around the middle of October, cranes migrate to the countryside near Izumi City, particularly Arasaki, and remain there until March of the following year before returning north.
While Hooded Cranes and White-Napped Cranes are most common, on rare occasions Eurasian Cranes and Sandhill Cranes can also be seen. The cranes are a protected species in Japan. In 2007, a total of 12,039 birds were confirmed here.

A subspecies of the Japanese monkey that exclusively inhabits Yakushima. Smaller than the Japanese monkey found in Kyushu and Honshu, and with long black fur, many of these monkeys can be seen on Yaku-Sugi Land.

A protected animal of Japan, found only on Amami Oshima Island, Edatekujima Island, Kakeromajima Island and Ukejima Island. It measures about 40cm from head to tail in length and the Lidth's Jay is easily recognized by its beautiful azure wings.