The Ministry of the Environment in Japan has reported a record number of bear-related fatalities this year, totaling seven deaths since April. This figure surpasses the five fatalities documented in the year leading up to April 2024 and reflects the highest number recorded since data collection began in 2006. Most incidents have occurred in the northeastern regions and Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture.
One of the recent incidents involved a 60-year-old man who went missing while cleaning an outdoor hot spring bath, which is suspected to be attributed to a bear attack. Additionally, investigators found human blood and bear fur at the scene of an attack in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, where a man was confirmed dead due to a bear-related incident last week.
This year has also seen approximately 100 injuries from bear encounters, up from 85 injuries and three fatalities reported in the previous 12 months. Another notable incident took place in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, where a bear, approximately 1.4 meters tall, entered a supermarket, resulting in minor injuries to two men aged 60 and 70. The store, located near mountainous areas, had not previously experienced bear encounters.
On the same day as the supermarket incident, a bear reportedly scratched and bit a farmer outside his home in Iwate while accompanied by a cub. Earlier this month, a Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear at a bus stop in Shirakawa-go, a village in central Japan.
Experts suggest that bear attacks often increase in autumn as bears prepare for hibernation. They indicate that climate change, which has led to lower yields of beech nuts, may compel bears to venture into residential areas in search of food. Additionally, factors such as depopulation in rural areas may be contributing to these incidents. Japan is home to two species of bears: Asian black bears and brown bears, the latter predominantly found on Hokkaido.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj41vn9q81ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss