Two Dead Likely Due to Bear Attacks in Japan - Japan's Bear Attacks Surge: Two Dead, 64 Injured in 5 Months
Japan is grappling with a surge in bear attacks, with two fatalities and 64 injuries reported since April. The incidents, including the recent deaths of Takashi Sato and Yuki Tanaka, have occurred in Miyagi and Nagano prefectures. Authorities attribute this to a decline in hunters and changes in bear behaviour due to climate change.
The latest victims, 78-year-old Takashi Sato and 65-year-old Yuki Tanaka, were found with injuries consistent with bear attacks. Sato's body was discovered in Nagano prefecture, while Tanaka was attacked in Miyagi. This brings the total number of fatal attacks to two, with 64 people injured across Japan from April to August.
Experts link the increase in bear sightings and attacks to a combination of factors. A shrinking and aging population has led to fewer hunters, while abandoned farms and houses provide easy access for bears to residential areas. Climate change also plays a role, altering bears' food sources and hibernation patterns, driving them into villages and cities in search of food.
In response to the growing threat, Japan relaxed its gun laws in early September. Hunters can now shoot bears in residential areas without police approval, but only in emergency situations. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves and their property.
