Wild black bear in Japan captured after multi-day hunt grips nation's attention
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- The Japanese city of Utsunomiya captured a wild black bear after a multi-day search that led to school closures and residents being urged to stay indoors.
- All 94 municipal primary and middle schools in Utsunomiya were closed for two consecutive days due to bear sightings, with closures extended amid reports of a possible second bear.
- Bear attacks have increased in Japan, prompting the government to establish a task force; in fiscal 2025, there were a record 238 casualties, including 13 deaths.
- The captured bear, weighing about 100 kg, was tranquilized and removed, but authorities have not yet decided its fate.
- Experts attribute the rise in bear encounters to climate change reducing natural food sources and rural depopulation leading bears to seek food near human settlements.