Takeshi Imazu's daily tasks are far from what a typical prefectural official handles.

For more than half of the week, he goes out to the Inbanuma marsh of Chiba Prefecture either to capture or study snapping turtles, a freshwater species that threatens local biodiversity.

Snapping turtles, considered one of the 100 most destructive invasive alien species by The Ecological Society of Japan, pose a major threat to the ecosystem and can cause serious injuries with their strong bite.