A Japanese man in Fukushima has dedicated his life to rescuing cats and other animals left behind in the ghost town.
Sakae Kato, 57, has spent the past ten years in the core zone caring for these animals, according to Reuters.
The former construction worker and business owner told the news office that he came to his decision after finding dead pets left in homes he was hired to demolish.
JAPANESE FACE MASKS SELL FOR $ 9.6G PEARLS, CRYSTALS, MORE
“I want to make sure I’m here to take care of the last one,” he told Reuters. “After that, I want to die, whether it’s a day or an hour later.”
Sakae Kato reportedly takes care of cats diagnosed with feline leukemia at his home in Fukushima, which is located in Namie, a restricted area. (Reuters)
About 160,000 Fukushima residents fled the city after the collapse of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, caused by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, which reached tsunami waves up to 49 feet, according to the World Nuclear Association. .
Furious waters shut down the power supply and cooling system of three reactors at the power station. A nuclear accident occurred on March 11, 2011. The catastrophic events claimed the lives of 19,300 people and are considered the most serious nuclear accidents since Chernobyl.
JAPANESE THEME PARK LET GUESTS WORK DISTANCE FROM FERRIS WHEEL
But Kato has not left the city or the house that has been in his possession for three generations.
Kato, 57, has been caring for dozens of cats in Fukushima for the past decade. (Reuters)
He is currently caring for 41 cats in his weathered two-story home and another nearby building that is on his property. Twenty-three wild cats were reportedly buried in his yard.
Aside from cats, Kato said he rescued a dog named Pochi and even admitted to buying food for wild pigs hanging around the house.
JAPANESE MANDARINE APPLES BOUGHT FOR $ 9.6G FOR A SINGLE CRATE
In total, according to Kato, he estimates $ 7,000 to take care of the forgotten animals he encountered in Fukushima.
According to Kato, it costs him $ 7,000 a month to care for 41 cats, 1 dog and wild boar in Fukushima. (Reuters)
Reuters reports Kato was arrested on February 25 because local authorities suspected the altruistic elderly man of freeing wild pigs from the traps in November. Boar is believed to be a pest that destroys crops along with deer, according to The Japan Times.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A separate report from the national news source says the Japanese government is struggling to withdraw former residents of Fukushima.
The government plans to start with $ 18,328 (¥ 2 million) in April to encourage residents affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident to return.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
The travel guide Japan-Guide says that radiation levels in Fukushima prefecture decreased until before 2011.
Reuters contributed to this report.