Record number of bear attacks in Japan: government calls for hunting!

Record number of bear attacks in Japan: government calls for hunting!

Japan is facing a dramatic situation: with a record number of fatal bear attacks, fears among the population have risen sharply. Thirteen people have been killed by bears nationwide this year, the highest number since records began. Many other people have been injured by encounters with the animals. The central government now sees a need for action and is encouraging former police officers and professional soldiers to acquire hunting licenses in order to provide the urgently needed support for bear hunting. Nordkurier reports that the strict gun laws have been relaxed and police officers are now allowed to shoot bears with rifles in order to reduce the danger.

The increase in these dangerous encounters is due to several factors. On the one hand, there is an increasing lack of food in the mountain forests, which increases the pressure on the bears. Climate change and the decline of beechnuts contribute to this situation. On the other hand, there are demographic challenges: rural areas are depopulating as the population ages. The northern prefectures of Iwate and Akita are where most of the tragic incidents take place. Fukushima Prefecture has also reported two fatal attacks, including an attack on an elderly couple in front of their home.

Planned government measures

To combat the growing threat, Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara announced plans to increase training for hunters and improve control of the bear population. There have already been over 200 reported encounters between people and bears this year, many of which resulted in injuries. The increase of more than 40% in these incidents compared to last year shows that the situation is serious. To address this challenge, the government is planning various measures, including additional training for community hunting teams and the implementation of better early warning systems. Sumikai reports that monitoring systems are also being tested to monitor the migration of bears.

The government also plans to educate the population and improve regulation of food and waste in rural areas to keep the bears away. In the long term, the aim is to restore ecological buffer zones between settlements and wild areas in order to promote better coexistence between humans and animals. The challenges are great as the number of licensed hunters has fallen from 520,000 in the 1980s to around 130,000 and the average age of hunters is now over 60 years old. This could create a gap in wildlife management that needs to be urgently addressed.

Another worrying development can be seen in the reaction of the population. The governor of Akita, Kenta Suzuki, has already called for the deployment of soldiers to improve the security situation. While the military assists in setting live traps and transporting killed bears, it does not shoot bears itself. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasizes that people's lives are under threat and that the government must now do everything in its power to guarantee the safety of citizens. Nordkurier emphasizes that increased control over agricultural land and the retention of food outdoors are also important in order to minimize the risk of further attacks.

In this alarming situation, an urgent solution is required. Ensuring human safety and better management of the bear population must go hand in hand to solve the problem in the long term and minimize dangerous encounters.