Governor of one prefecture says he is considering asking the military for help to tackle increasing attacks amid thousands-strong bear population.
Knowing what to do in the event of a close encounter with a bear was once a concern only for hikers and foragers in Japan. Now, however, people in populated areas are being urged to learn how to protect themselves following a spate of attacks, as the animals leave their natural habitats in search of food.
Bear encounters are generating almost daily headlines. In the past week in Akita prefecture, the animals attacked a jogger and a walker in built-up areas, while another terrorised four people before holing up inside a nearby house. None of the victims was seriously injured. However, some encounters have been fatal: according to the environment ministry, nine people have died across the country since April – the highest annual total on record.
The consensus is that anyone who finds themselves face to face with a bear should avoid eye contact and sudden movements, and back away slowly without turning their back on the animal. They should not attempt to run or scale a tree – feats that bears perform with far greater speed and agility than humans. If a mauling seems inevitable, experts advise victims to lie on the ground face down and protect their heads and necks.
Other preventative measures include carrying a bell or whistle while out walking, and staying in groups, since bears rarely approach multiple people. Repellent spray is considered the most effective precaution, but is not easily available in Japan. The list of don’ts includes hiking at dusk and dawn, when bears are at their most active, and never to discard food or other rubbish.
There are an estimated 44,000 Asian black bears in Japan – found in many areas but particularly in the north – and 12,000 larger Ussuri brown bears, found on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Changing behaviour among Japan’s large and growing bear population is thought to be behind the surge in incidents, particularly in Hokkaido and other regions in the north. Hungry bears have been spotted in towns and villages – places they were once reluctant to roam – amid a decline in harvests of acorns and beechnuts, according to experts.
