US EditionJapanese region asks army to cull bears as attacks spike
Akita officials report 54 bear-related casualties this year, a sixfold increase in sightings, prompting calls for Self-Defense Forces to assist with culling and logistical support.
- Governor Kenta Suzuki of Akita Prefecture has asked the military for help to cull bears due to a rise in attacks, stating the situation is unprecedented and that exhaustion on the ground is reaching its limit.
- This year, there have been 54 reported injuries or deaths due to bear attacks in Akita, a significant increase from 11 last year.
- The Japanese government has reported nine bear-related fatalities since April, marking an annual record in attacks.
- Bears are increasingly coming into contact with humans due to rising bear populations and rural depopulation, making them less fearful of humans than before.
90 Articles
90 Articles
In northern Japan, ten people have been killed by the wild animals since the beginning of the year, which is a new peak. The governor of the Akita Prefecture has now requested the help of the army.
Japanese region asks army to cull bears after 54 attacks this year
TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) – The governor of Japan’s Akita, a mountainous northern prefecture, has called for the military’s help to protect residents from an unprecedented wave of bear attacks. “Exhaustion on the ground is reaching its limit,” Governor Kenta Suzuki said in an Instagram post on Sunday. He said he planned to ask for help with a bear cull. Japan’s new defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi will meet Suzuki on Tuesday morning, according to…
Deaths from bear attacks in Japan hit record high of 10 after latest fatality
Japan's Environment Ministry says 10 people have died from bear attacks across the nation so far this fiscal year, which started in April. That's a record high. The latest occurred last Friday when a 38-year-old man was killed by a bear in a village in Akita Prefecture. According to an NHK tally, as of Sunday, at least 78 people had been caught in bear attacks so far this month. The figure exceeds the previous high of 73 recorded in October 2023…
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