TOKYO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A central prefecture of Japan plans to exterminate all 4,000 raccoons thought to be living in the region to avoid damage to agriculture, Kyodo News said Saturday.

    Kanagawa prefecture, to the south of Tokyo, would carry out the plan in five years. The plan is thought to be in line with the Japanese law that prevents damage from alien species.

    According to Kyodo, similar plans have been approved by Japan's environment ministry.

    The number of raccoons caught in the prefecture surged from four to some 1,000 from fiscal year 1995 to fiscal year 2005, local officials said, most of the mammals have become wild after being kept as pets.

    The animals have caused an estimated damage of over 15 million yen (about 133,900 U.S. dollars) to agricultural produce and others in fiscal 2005, officials said.

    Some local residents and experts have voiced opposition to the trapping and killing of raccoons which the plan called for, in terms of animal protection and its questionable effect. Enditem