AKITA, Nov 03 (News On Japan) –
Japan’s record-breaking bear disaster has entered a brand new and lethal section, with authorities confirming {that a} 79-year-old lady lacking in Akita Prefecture was discovered useless within the mountains, believed to be the thirteenth fatality from bear assaults this yr.
A black bear cub about 70 centimeters lengthy was noticed climbing a residential wall in Sapporo on November 2nd, wandering via the neighborhood for greater than 5 hours earlier than being shot by hunters. Around the identical time, one other bear measuring roughly 1.2 meters appeared close to properties in Sunagawa, northeast of Sapporo, prompting warnings to residents.
But even these skilled to cope with bears have turn out to be victims. In the mountains of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, a 75-year-old hunter was mauled on November 1st, struggling severe facial accidents. Elsewhere in the identical prefecture, three bears have been sighted in Nishiwaga the next day.
The toll of deadly bear encounters in 2025 has now reached an unprecedented 12 deaths—double final yr’s document—and authorities worry it has risen to 13 after the physique of 79-year-old Kiyo Goto was found within the mountains of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, on November third. She had advised her household she was “going to the mountain” earlier than disappearing. Her stays confirmed extreme accidents in line with a bear assault.
The risk has unfold effectively past Tohoku. In Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, an 80-year-old man was attacked round 11 a.m. on November 2nd whereas observing a persimmon tree, a favourite meals of bears. Officials stated bear sightings within the metropolis have practically doubled since final yr.
A metropolis official in Kyotango stated, “The number of appearances has almost doubled since last year. Human casualties are being taken very seriously.”
According to experiences, bears have been additionally sighted throughout Nagano and Yamagata over the latest three-day weekend. In Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture, a surveillance digicam captured one round 3 a.m. on November third close to an area elementary college the place one other bear had been noticed simply days earlier, on October twenty ninth.
Mayor Takao Shiraiwa of Nanyo stated, “The frequent appearances of bears in urban areas represent a major change. Fundamental countermeasures at the national level are urgently needed.”
Experts warn that Japan is going through a full-scale wildlife disaster. Tohru Oi, a particular professor at Ishikawa Prefectural University, stated the outbreak started in late August and has peaked since October. “Bears are desperate to eat before hibernation, but acorns and other key food sources have failed massively this year,” he defined. “As a result, many bears are wandering into towns searching for food.”
Oi added that feminine bears with cubs are particularly harmful this season, as they turn out to be extremely aggressive in defending their younger. Past footage from Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, exhibits a mom bear abruptly attacking a person gathering mushrooms; he managed to battle it off after about 20 seconds. Witnesses stated a cub had been climbing a close-by tree moments earlier than the assault.
Seishi Sato of the Genrin Bear Workshop, who analyzed the footage, stated, “It was a young mother bear, probably less than one meter tall. You can see the strength and speed—they’re no match for humans.”
Source: FNN