Instead, we went to Yubu, an island off Iriomote's east coast.

The sample from Yubu Island was small, and judgment was held back.

The water buffalo cart crossing to Yubu costs $12 round trip, and includes entrance to the botanic garden.

The highlight of a trip to Yubu, though, is the actual crossing: carts pulled by water buffaloes ply the 400-yard-wide shallow channel.

Yubu Island (Yubu-jima)

The major road south (A44) ledas to Li Yubu, South Sudan, at the border with the Central African Republic.

In addition to this example, the scientists also were able to obtain the crushed skull of a kitten from the neighboring Yubu Island that was later reconstructed by Imaizumi.

The county was named after the Yuba River by Captain John Sutter for the Native American village Yubu, Yupu or Juba near the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers.