Depopulation is unleashing a rewilding nightmare in Japan

Oct 28, 2023 | News On Japan

Bears, wild boars and even deer herds are returning to the picturesque countryside, raising public safety concerns

Oct 28, 2023 (ucanews.com) - In the midst of Japan's enchanting blend of tradition and innovation, a pressing issue looms, challenging the balance between humans and nature in the nation.

The environment minister has responded to a significant increase in bear attacks this year by calling for extensive action to prevent bears from encroaching upon human communities.

According to the Ministry of Environment, 109 people have been subjected to bear attacks in 105 separate incidents up until the end of September. If this pattern continues, it may surpass the previous records of 145 attacks in 2010 and 158 in 2020.

The situation has been described as "remarkable" by the ministry. The attacks typically decrease around the start of November when bears enter hibernation.

But this year, a poor yield of Japanese beech tree seeds in the Tohoku region may drive them to continue wandering into communities after November in search of food.

The increasing number of bear attacks in Japan is a direct consequence of depopulation. As rural villages gradually vanish from the map bears are moving into these abandoned areas. Their return to what was once their native habitat is a stark reminder of nature's power to reclaim abandoned spaces. ...continue reading

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