Over 70 bear attacks on humans in just one month have pushed Japanese authorities to take drastic measures. The situation has escalated to the point where police and military forces are now mobilizing to address the dangerous bear populations causing havoc in Japan’s rural areas.
Previously, efforts focused on capturing these wild animals. However, the National Police Agency (NPA) announced a significant policy shift. As of November 5, police will be allowed to cull wild bears using rifles. According to the Japan Times, this decision comes after a marked increase in bear attacks in Akita and Iwate prefectures. “The police are set to cull bears … with operations scheduled to begin on Nov. 13 when the revisions take effect,” it was reported.
The context for this shift is alarming: over 100 bear attacks since April have resulted in injuries to more than 100 individuals and 13 fatalities, marking the highest death toll in a decade. Local governments have requested support due to a shortage of licensed hunters, prompting the NPA to take a more direct approach to wildlife control.
In response, authorities are deploying troops to the mountainous regions of Akita. These specially formed teams will include trained riot police officers, who will carry out culling operations only in situations deemed too challenging for local hunters. Animals that invade urban areas pose a significant threat, with increasing sightings reported in cities like Kyoto and Tokyo.
The horrifying nature of these bear attacks is underscored by the accounts of survivors. One man, Keiji Minatoya, described a terrifying ordeal where a bear pinned him down and mauled him, leaving him severely injured. His vivid memories of the encounter, including the bear’s “terrifying roar,” highlight the urgency of dealing with these aggressive wildlife encounters. “Bears that attack have learned that humans are weak,” he stated, capturing the baffling shift in bear behavior as they encroach upon human habitats.
Moreover, the issue of bear populations is not confined to Japan. European and North American regions also report similar surges in bear encounters, suggesting a growing trend that deserves attention.
As Japan moves forward with these new culling measures, it remains clear that bears, emboldened by their interactions with human settlements, have become a significant danger in many areas. The call for a decisive response from authorities speaks volumes about the pressing need to restore safety for residents in these affected regions. However, opinions about the fate of these animals vary, with some urging for a more compassionate approach while others see the necessity for tough action against those bears that pose a direct threat to human life.
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