Tottori - Authorities in Tottori Prefecture are stepping up patrols after large quantities of bread were repeatedly dumped near Daisen National Park and more loaves were found on a beach about an hour's drive away, raising concerns that discarded food could attract wild animals.
Tottori City officials photographed the latest discovery during a patrol on August 24 at Hakuto Coast, where loaves of bread had been left behind.
The discovery came about 10 days after roughly 30 loaves of sliced bread were found scattered along a prefectural road running near Daisen, a mountain within a national park in the same prefecture.
Authorities repeatedly collected the bread, only for more to be dumped. At least 39 kilograms was recovered over a four-day period.
The latest bread was found on the coast about an hour by car from the prefectural road where the earlier dumping occurred.
According to the Tottori prefectural government, visitors to the beach during the Obon holiday period found about 10 loaves of sliced bread that had been discarded there.
A city employee inspecting the bread during a patrol said it had become extremely hard.
Authorities have not determined who dumped the bread or why.
Naoya Nishizawa, head of Tottori City's Environmental Conservation Division, said illegal dumping can cause environmental pollution and urged people to stop the practice.
Because discarded food could lure wild animals into areas used by people, the prefectural and city governments plan to strengthen patrols and other measures aimed at preventing further illegal dumping.
Source: FNN
