Japan is grappling with its deadliest year on record for bear attacks, as a recent fatality pushed the annual toll to at least 10 and underscored a worsening human-wildlife conflict across the archipelago.
The latest incident, which occurred on Friday, October 24, involved one death and three injuries in a mountain village in the northern Akita prefecture. Police responded to reports of four villagers attacked.
Local media reported that two of the injured were working in fields, while the other two were harmed attempting to help. A local hunter later shot a bear nearby, with officials investigating if it was responsible for the assault.
This year’s 10 confirmed deaths surpass the previous annual high of nine fatalities.
On the same day as the Akita attack, a 70-year-old woman survived a bear encounter with injuries in the central Toyama prefecture. Earlier in October, a man in his 60s died after being attacked while cleaning an outdoor hot spring in Iwate prefecture.
Conservationalists point to several factors driving the surge in attacks. Global warming is reducing natural food sources for bears, forcing them into human-populated areas in search of sustenance.
Additionally, the declining human population in Japan’s rural regions means a greater overlap between residential zones and wildlife habitats.
Japan is home to two primary bear species: the Asian black bear and the larger brown bear, found predominantly on the northern island of Hokkaido.
The country’s Environment Minister has declared the situation a “serious national problem.” The government plans to implement stricter measures, including enhanced training and support for state hunters, and systematic management of bear populations.
Despite thousands of bears being culled annually to control numbers, the nation faces a dwindling pool of hunters due to its aging society. This makes effective population management an increasing challenge.