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GLOSSARY
White stork (konotori)
The white stork - konotori or kozuru in Japanese - is a large bird (total length 1.12m) with a stocky neck and thick beak. The body feathers are pure white except for the primary wing feathers, which are black; the legs and a circle around the eye are red. Until the second half of the 19th century the white stork was found in many parts of Japan but today it is rare and only seen in Hyogo and Fukui Prefectures. Some birds are being raised in sanctuaries, feeding upon the fish, frogs and other small creatures that make up the natural diet. Pollution affecting the food supply has considerably affected the breeding cycle of the white stork and many eggs do not hatch. The konotori is a special natural monument.