Japan faces 'inevitable' rise in bear attacks as climate change pushes them into urban areas

Nov 03, 2023 | News On Japan

Nov 03, 2023 (South China Morning Post) - A record number of people have been attacked by bears so far this year in Japan, with government statistics showing 180 incidents leading to five deaths between the start of April and the end of October, compared to a previous annual high of 158 attacks in 2020.

Authorities are calling on residents in rural parts of the country, farmers, hikers, fishermen and anyone else in regions that are also home to bears to exercise caution.

They also warn that additional incidents are likely in the coming weeks, given a poor crop of nuts, berries and wild fruit in mountainous areas this year that has been blamed on climate change, and a warm autumn that is delaying bears’ hibernation.

On Tuesday, three hikers in Hokkaido, northern Japan, were attacked by a 1.7-metre brown bear as they climbed Mount Daisengen. Two of the men sustained scratches and bites to their legs and torsos before the third man fought the bear off with a hunting knife, the Mainichi newspaper reported. ...continue reading

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