Asian black bear sightings break record in Japan
(MENAFN) Japan saw a surge in Asian black bear sightings this year, with 20,792 reported between April and September—the highest total for this six-month period since records began in fiscal 2009, according to government reports. This surpasses the previous record of 15,832 sightings during the same months in 2024.
Northeastern prefectures reported the most encounters, with Iwate recording 4,499 and Akita 4,005 sightings. “The bears are increasingly appearing in areas close to human settlements,” Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara noted.
Recent incidents highlight the growing danger: two men, aged in their 60s and 80s, were injured in separate bear attacks in Akita, while a 79-year-old woman was found dead in a forested area, possibly due to a bear attack. Bear-related incidents in Akita have already resulted in at least three deaths and over 50 injuries this year, prompting a prefecture-wide bear warning.
Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki suggested deploying Self-Defense Forces personnel to help manage the threat. While the SDF cannot engage in culling, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed the military would provide logistical support to local authorities.
Japan is home to two bear species: brown bears in Hokkaido and Asian black bears in Honshu and Shikoku.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
