U.S. military aircraft's sonic boom causes chickens to be trampled to death

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

U.S. military aircraft's sonic boom causes chickens to be trampled to death

Eighty-six chickens were trampled to death due to panic caused by sonic booms from a U.S. military aircraft on June 14 in Odate City in Akita Prefecture.

The local roost of chicken named "Hinai Jidori" is rated as one of the top three chicken roosts in Japan for its delicious meat. The poultry farmer angrily said, "Those chickens were killed like that just before shipment. It's a terrible way to die!"

Chickens have the habit of coming together into a cluster when startled by a strong noise.

The farmer said, "In our chicken house, in which 800 chickens range free, I found a one-meter-high jumble of chickens. Chickens at the bottom of the heap were choked to death." He says he shares Okinawans' sentiments in wanting to have the U.S. military presence removed.

In February, sonic booms by U.S. military aircraft's low-altitude flights inflicted similar deaths to 120 local chickens in total. Another farmer who lost 60 chick in February said, "I wish that the U.S. forces stop at least the low-altitude flight training exercises."

-Akahata, June 19, 2010