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,…
Japanese authorities are struggling to cope with the surge in bear-related complaints, with 40% of local governments reporting disrupted operations due to the increased 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, with 10 reporting complaints that took up a lot of time, such as phone calls lasting more than an hour, and five receiving an overwhelming number of grievances via their websites and by email.
Frontline staff have had to deal with aggressive residents demanding they "put the governor on the phone," as well as conflicting requests following the release of a captured animal. There have been more than 50,000 bear encounters in the 2025 financial year, a record high and double the number from the previous financial year.
Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
