Deadly Bear Attacks Rise in Japan as Animals Lose Fear of Humans
TOKYO, JAPAN – A surge in bear attacks is causing alarm in Japan, fueled by a rapidly growing bear population and a concerning loss of natural fear of humans among younger animals.Recent incidents have involved increasingly aggressive encounters, with bears exhibiting behavior previously unseen, according too medical professionals.
The number of brown bears in Japan has doubled in the last 30 years, reaching approximately 12,000 currently, according to government figures. The population of Asian black bears, also known as collared bears, on the main island of Honshu has risen to 42,000.
Experts attribute this population boom to several factors. An abundant food supply, particularly acorns, is becoming more common due to climate change. Simultaneously, a declining and aging hunting population has led to increased numbers of deer and wild boar – typical bear prey.
“In some regions, the bear population is now so large that the mountains no longer offer enough space,” explains Naoki Ohnishi, an expert from the Japanese Research Institute for Forestry and Forest Products. The increasing depopulation of rural areas is also driving bears into abandoned villages in search of food.
This year, a shortage of acorns is exacerbating the problem, forcing bears to venture into populated areas. “In search of food, the bears roam through villages and cities,” says Shinsuke Koike, a professor at the University of Agriculture and Technology in Tokyo. This increased contact is leading to a dangerous trend: young bears are losing their natural fear of people.
Dr. Hajime Nakae,professor of emergency and intensive care medicine at the University Hospital in Akita,has observed a shift in bear attack patterns. “In the past, a startled bear would usually only give a person a blow with its paw and then flee. Today it is indeed more common for bears to ‘rush towards you from ten meters away and jump on you.'”
In response, the Japanese government has announced increased hunting measures. Soldiers have been deployed to Akita and Iwate prefectures to provide logistical support for bear hunting, including setting traps. Police have also been authorized to shoot bears.
Researcher Ohnishi emphasizes that “thorough hunting is the only effective way to reduce the danger from bears in the long term.” however, the situation may temporarily ease as bears begin to hibernate in the coming months.
(Source: ntv.de,Hiroshi Hiyama and Caroline Gardin,AFP)
