News On Japan

Salmon shortage leads to brown bear cubs dying in Japan

Sep 27 (straitstimes.com) - Brown bears usually wait to feed on pink salmon swimming upstream at the estuaries in Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido from mid-August to early October.

In 2023, they have been unable to find the fish at the mouths of the rivers, reported The Asahi Shimbun on Monday. Instead, the brown bears have been swimming in the sea to look for food.

On Sept 19, images taken from a tour boat off the coast showed a thin bear swimming, turning rocks on a beach and rummaging through washed-ashore seaweed. The bear was searching for fish, shellfish and insects, said The Asahi Shimbun.

“Some bears have grown really thin, and they are having a tough time,” said Mr Katsuya Noda, who operates the cruise and told the newspaper. “There are no fish in the rivers, just like last year.”

“This year, in addition to the lack of salmon, acorns also have a poor harvest, Mr Masami Yamanaka, a researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, told The Asahi Shimbun.

“An estimated 70 to 80 percent of the cubs born this year are dead. It’s really a serious situation.”

Pink salmon is an importance source of food for the estimated 500 brown bears that inhabit Shiretoko Peninsula, a Unesco World Natural Heritage site, known for its landscapes and wild animals. ...continue reading

Source: JAPAN NEWS NIIGATA

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Lime, the world’s largest electric scooter-sharing service, has announced a collaboration with a major insurance company to pursue a full-scale entry into the Japanese market.

A man was arrested in Higashi-Osaka for allegedly abducting three girls, one of whom has died, with around 80 empty medicine shells discovered in his home.

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, turned 18 on September 6, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial family.

The Ariake Urban Sports Park, which will open next month at the former Tokyo Olympic skateboarding site, was previewed Thursday ahead of its official opening on October 12.

The total cash earnings received by workers in Japan increased by 3.6% in July compared to last year, marking the second consecutive month of positive growth in real wages after adjusting for inflation.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Universal Studios Japan has begun its annual Halloween event, running from September 5 to November 4. This year, a new character has been introduced to protect visitors from the attacking zombies.

Despite it being the season to enjoy fresh sashimi, a blooming sea creature threatens to disrupt supplies due to its potential large-scale resurgence after 15 years.

Sōya (宗谷) is a retired Japanese icebreaker ship that operated for a large part of the 20th century. She was commissioned in 1936 and launched in 1938. (Cory May)

Many young Japanese individuals on working holiday visas in Australia are facing financial difficulties, with some even relying on soup kitchens for food. While working holidays in Australia were once seen as a lucrative opportunity, the situation has changed, particularly due to high living costs and difficulty finding jobs.

The city of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, has decided to double or triple the admission fee for Himeji Castle for visitors from outside the city. The castle is a World Cultural Heritage site. (NHK)

A group of about 80 people, believed to be resellers, were caught on camera cutting in line at Tokyo Disneyland to purchase limited-edition Duffy merchandise. The incident occurred on August 29, when the new items were released, attracting large crowds even before the park's gates opened.

Typhoon No. 10, which brought record-breaking rains across various regions, has left significant damage, including flooding homes and triggering landslides. On Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, a 3,000-year-old Yakusugi tree was split in two, leaving a scar on a popular tourist spot.

Today we're going to explore some of the hidden gems of Osaka! These are the places that you'd NEVER find unless a local shares them with you! If you come to Osaka and don't go to these places, you're definitely missing out! (Mrs Eats)