AKITA –
As bear sightings proceed at an unusually excessive tempo throughout Akita Prefecture, a veteran wildlife photographer who has spent almost 30 years observing and photographing Asian black bears says the animals are showing extra continuously, shifting nearer to human settlements, and more and more adapting their habits to outlive.
Akemi Kato, a photographer primarily based in Akita City, shared his observations throughout a radio program analyzing bear ecology and the rising variety of bear-related incidents within the prefecture. Kato has spent almost three many years documenting bears within the wild and printed his work in a photograph assortment titled There Are Bears in Akita City.
His pictures seize not often seen facets of bear habits, together with giant bears balancing on skinny tree branches, cubs sleeping excessive in bushes, and bears climbing with exceptional agility. To safely doc the animals, Kato primarily makes use of telephoto lenses and pictures them from a distance.
“Because bears are wild animals, there is always danger involved,” Kato mentioned. “I want to record their everyday lives and understand what they eat and how they live.”
Kato first encountered and photographed a bear round 30 years in the past whereas ready close to a walnut grove after listening to stories from hunters. As night fell, he noticed a darkish form rising from the bushes greater than 200 meters away.
“Even at that distance, it was frightening,” he recalled. “It was getting dark, there was nobody around, and I wondered if there might be other bears nearby.”
Looking again over three many years of remark, Kato mentioned probably the most important change has been the growing frequency of bear encounters. He believes bears at the moment are coming into villages and concrete areas extra usually and, fairly than merely passing by, are remaining there to feed.
He famous that even within the early 2000s bears have been usually seen round settlements, however not often entered them. Today, that scenario has modified dramatically.
Kato describes the connection as certainly one of “neighboring coexistence,” emphasizing that individuals should perceive bear habits whereas sustaining a secure distance from the animals.
Another main change he has witnessed is the fast enlargement of untamed boars in Akita. The first boar captured within the prefecture was recorded in southern Akita throughout the winter of 2012, and sightings have since unfold northward. Kato now continuously captures boars on digital camera in areas the place they have been beforehand absent.
He believes interactions between bears and boars may change into an vital problem sooner or later as a result of the 2 species usually compete for a similar meals, together with beechnuts, acorns, and sure vegetation.
While filming bears feeding on skunk cabbage within the Futatsui space this previous May, Kato witnessed a sudden encounter between a bear and a boar. The bear reacted with a loud cry and leaped away earlier than fleeing the realm. In one other incident captured by a path digital camera final October, a bear feeding in a chestnut grove disappeared into the comb when a boar approached. Kato mentioned the footage gave him the impression that bears could actively keep away from encounters with boars.
Tracking bears requires cautious research of each their indicators and meals sources, Kato defined. He seems for damaged branches, footprints, and seasonal feeding habits, noting that bears usually change the way in which they eat the identical meals relying on the time of yr.
In current years, he has additionally noticed bears feeding on a rising number of human-related meals sources, together with apples, grapes, persimmons, rice, and buckwheat. During poor mast years, when pure meals sources are scarce, bears more and more depend on crops and fruit bushes close to communities.
Kato mentioned he first witnessed bears feeding on rice final yr, whereas bears in southern Akita have change into frequent guests to buckwheat fields.
“They are very flexible,” he mentioned. “They may not want to eat these foods originally, but they have to in order to survive.”
During meals shortages, Kato has noticed bears utilizing total villages as feeding grounds, shifting between persimmon bushes, chestnut bushes, walnut bushes, and different meals sources. He mentioned such experiences show each the animals’ desperation and their robust skill to study from profitable feeding alternatives.
This yr, nonetheless, Kato expects a powerful beech nut crop, a key meals supply for bears. He noticed plentiful blossoms within the spring and huge numbers of creating nuts throughout current discipline checks. If situations stay favorable, he believes the crop can be plentiful.
While plentiful meals within the mountains usually reduces bear appearances round folks throughout autumn, Kato famous that good meals years may contribute to inhabitants development and elevated replica.
Although he pressured that he’s a photographer fairly than a researcher, Kato mentioned the variety of bears he encounters right now is noticeably greater than previously.
Akita continues to report a few of Japan’s highest numbers of bear sightings, captures, accidents, and bear-related incidents. Kato believes the rising presence of bears in residential areas, mixed with adjustments affecting different giant wildlife species comparable to wild boars, represents a major problem.
To cut back the danger of bear assaults, Kato emphasised the significance of avoiding encounters each time doable. He recommends making noise whereas in bear habitat and remaining calm if a bear is encountered.
“If you suddenly run away after seeing a bear 20 or 30 meters away, that may be the most dangerous thing you can do,” he mentioned.
Kato carries bear spray each time he’s within the discipline, though he has by no means wanted to make use of it. More vital than any tools, he mentioned, is knowing the animal itself.
“I think the key is to know bears,” he mentioned. “The better we understand them, the better prepared we are to respond calmly.”
Kato will current a lecture on bear habits and ecology on July 25 in his hometown of Misato, Akita Prefecture. Using pictures and video footage collected over a few years, he’ll clarify the annual cycle and habits of bears. A photograph exhibition that includes his work may even open on July 25 on the city’s cultural middle.
Source: ABS秋田放送