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Japan deploys military to combat wave of deadly bear attacks
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Japan deploys military to combat wave of deadly bear attacks

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Japan has sent troops to the country’s rugged north to help capture bears, after local authorities said besieged communities were struggling to cope with an unprecedented wave of attacks.
The operation began in Kazuno, a small town nestled among forested mountains where bear sightings have increased sharply.

For weeks, residents have been urged to avoid dense forests and stay indoors after dark to stay away from bears foraging near homes.

“Even if it is only temporary, the SDF’s help is a great relief,” said Yasuhiro Kitakata, who oversees the city’s bear department.
“I used to think that bears would always run away when they heard a sound, but now they actually come to you. They are truly terrifying animals,” he added.
According to the Environment Ministry, there have been more than 100 bear attacks across Japan since April, killing a record 12 people.
In Akita, authorities say the number of bears has increased sixfold this year to more than 8,000, and attacks are on track to set a new record, prompting the governor last week to request help from the Self-Defense Forces.
“The townspeople feel the danger every day,” Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto said after meeting about 15 soldiers who entered the city in an army truck and jeeps equipped with bulletproof vests and a large map.
“It has affected the way people live their lives, forcing them to stop going out or cancel events,” Sasamoto said.

The troops were there to transport, set and inspect the steel-barred traps used to capture bears. These traps were later shot by trained hunters hired to cull the population.

In September, the government relaxed gun regulations to make it easier for hunters to shoot bears in urban areas. Source: Getty / Petesfotografie/iStockphoto

After Kazuno – a town of about 30,000 inhabitants known for its hot springs, scenery and variety of sweet apples – the soldiers will head to the towns of Odate and Kitaakita, under an agreement that will run until the end of November.

In recent weeks, bears have attacked customers at a supermarket, jumped a tourist waiting at a bus stop near a UNESCO World Heritage site and maimed a worker at a hot springs resort.
Some schools have been temporarily closed after bears were spotted on their premises.
Japanese black bears, which are found in most of the country, can weigh up to 130 kg.
Brown bears on the northern island of Hokkaido can weigh up to 400 kg.

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