A security guard in Japan has survived a terrifying encounter after fighting off a bear inside a public toilet, the latest incident in a record-shattering year for bear attacks across the country.
Early Morning Toilet Encounter
The attack occurred in the early hours of Friday in Gunma prefecture, north of Tokyo. According to reports from Kyodo news agency and broadcaster NHK, the 69-year-old victim was about to leave the public convenience when he noticed the animal, estimated to be 1-1.5 metres long, peering inside.
The man, who has not been publicly named, fell backwards but instinctively fought back, kicking his legs at the bear until it fled the scene. He sustained minor injuries to his right leg but was able to run to a nearby police box to raise the alarm. The incident took place close to a railway station that had closed for the night.
Record-Breaking Wave of Attacks
This alarming encounter is not an isolated event. Japan is experiencing an unprecedented surge in bear encounters. Official data from the environment ministry reveals that 13 people have died in bear attacks since the start of April, a record number.
The total number of attacks in the same period has reached 197, another grim record that is almost certain to surpass the previous annual high of 219 attacks set in the year starting April 2024. The northern prefecture of Akita has been the hardest hit, followed by Iwate and Fukushima in the country's north-east.
Hunger Drives Bears into Populated Areas
Experts point to a clear cause for this dangerous trend: food scarcity in the bears' natural habitats. A poor harvest of acorns and beechnuts has left the animals hungry and desperate, forcing them to venture into residential and other built-up areas in search of sustenance.
In response to the crisis, the Japanese government has deployed members of the self-defence forces to Akita to assist local hunters in trapping and disposing of bears. Furthermore, armed police officers have been granted permission to shoot the animals, a measure highlighting the severity of the situation amid a shortage of licensed hunters.
Adding to public anxiety, a local government in north-east Japan was forced to apologise this week after it was discovered that an image it posted on social media to promote awareness of bear attacks was AI-generated. The Onagawa municipal government deleted the post of the fabricated giant bear after the creator came forward.
