Japanese authorities feel strain of bear-related complaints as fear grips locals
In Japan, complaints about bears have strained the resources of 40 per cent of local governments amid a surge in encounters with the animals this year. According to a government survey of 40 prefectural and municipal councils, 17 said bear-related complaints had disrupted their operations. Of those, 10 reported complaints that took up a lot of time, such as phone calls lasting more than an hour,…
In recent months, Japan's local governments have faced a growing number of bear-related complaints, straining their resources. According to a government survey, 17 out of 40 prefectural and municipal councils reported that bear-related issues disrupted their operations, with 10 of them citing complaints that consumed considerable time and effort.
Some frontline staff had to deal with aggressive residents, with one individual even calling repeatedly demanding the governor be put on the line. Additionally, they had to navigate conflicting requests, such as calls demanding the release or killing of bears. One local government worker handling bear-related issues even faced harassment from an animal-rights activist, who took unauthorized photos of the employee and posted them online.
The situation is exacerbated by a record high of over 50,000 bear encounters in the 2025 financial year, double the number from the previous year, according to government data. The surge in encounters has been particularly notable in the northern regions of Hokkaido and Tohoku, where climber traffic dropped more than 30% between April and June compared to the same period last year.
Experts attribute the heightened anxiety among hikers to a series of fatal attacks that occurred last year and this year. However, wildlife management expert Kiyoshi Yamauchi emphasized that many attacks occur when people gather wild vegetables or in areas near their homes, and bears in the mountains tend to be wary and often flee when they sense people nearby.
To help people understand bears and learn how to coexist with them, Utsunomiya Zoo in Tochigi prefecture is hosting a "Let's start by learning about bears" exhibition, which runs until the end of the month. The zoo director hopes the exhibition will deepen understanding of bears and encourage people to take sensible precautions while enjoying hiking, such as carrying bear bells or whistles and staying on designated trails.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
