WWII effect on wildlife

[GrauGeist]

Something I've always wondered about and honestly never seen any publications regarding warfare's effect on wildlife in the various theaters, particularly WWII because it extended into a wide range of wilderness areas.

One of the reasons why I'm curious, is because as a child, I heard the recollection of my Uncle Fred's experience aboard his sub, the Grayling (SS-209) when they were cornered by an IJN destroyer who was delivering depth-charges perilously close when all of a sudden, it started following a noise, dropping depth-charges as it went. It turns out the Grayling's savior was a whale!

I always wondered what happened to that whale and this of course, leads me to the question of the war's impact on the wildlife.

 

[Snautzer01]

Japanese sailors had to make an important decision. Sub or Sushi. Sushi it was.

 

[michaelmaltby]

I don't know if you can generalize about wildlife .... wolves, for example, seemed to thrive on the Eastern Front where bodies were plentiful ...

 

[denoferth]

Well, my dad, a recently out of work artillery spotter turned MP for the army of occupation got to harvest roe deer with a woefully inadequate M! carbine for the mess hall somewhere in Germany.

 

[GrauGeist]

I don't know if you can generalize about wildlife .... wolves, for example, seemed to thrive on the Eastern Front where bodies were plentiful ...

Same can be said of the Saltwater Crocs on Ramree island that annihilated retreating Japanese infantry that were crossing a mangrove swamp.

 

[stug3]

Well, my dad, a recently out of work artillery spotter turned MP for the army of occupation got to harvest roe deer with a woefully inadequate M! carbine for the mess hall somewhere in Germany.

He should have borrowed a Garand, I imagine they would be pretty good deer guns.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Have read that a particular type of bird native only to Wake Island was eaten to extinction by the starving Japanese garrison trapped there.

 

[GrauGeist]

Taking Wake Island wasn't one of the IJN's smartest moves - no fresh water supply, no food supply (save for fish and birds) and a difficult supply logistic.

But in regards to the birds, yes, that's what I am talking about. If the Japanese had not taken that island, would it be likely that the species of birds would still be in existence today?

 

[jetcal1]

Taking Wake Island wasn't one of the IJN's smartest moves - no fresh water supply, no food supply (save for fish and birds) and a difficult supply logistic.

But in regards to the birds, yes, that's what I am talking about. If the Japanese had not taken that island, would it be likely that the species of birds would still be in existence today?

Wake Island rail