Part of the Iriomote's cat range was designated as on April 18, 1972. With the US's return of the Ryukyu Islands to Japanese control on May 15, it became Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, and in March 1991 11,584.67 hectares of the island was designated the in order to protect the natural environment of the islands. Despite these efforts, not enough land within the cats' preferred habitat of less than 200 meters above sea level was included. In 1995 the was established to increase preservation work, enforce research, and to increase understanding of the cat's ecological needs.