Authorities baffled by loaves of bread appearing on mountain road in Japan's Tottori Pref.
DAISEN, Tottori -- Someone has illegally dumped large amounts of bread along the prefectural Daisen ring road near Daisenji Temple here in a string of
Authorities in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, are puzzled by the recent discovery of a large quantity of bread dumped along a mountain road. The incidents began on August 14, with 39 kilograms of bread scattered over four days. In addition to the bread, chicken livers were also left on one occasion. The food may have been intended to feed animals, leading officials to increase vigilance in the area.
The location of the bread dumps is near the trailhead for Mount Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku region, and lies within Daisen-Oki National Park. The site is deep in the mountains at an elevation of about 800 meters, with no homes and no vehicle or foot traffic after dark. The first loaf of bread was discovered by a staff member of the Natural Parks Foundation's Tottori branch on August 14. The loaves were significantly larger than typical supermarket bread, weighing a total of 16.7 kg.
Over the following days, more bread was found dumped at the same site and other locations. On August 19, 1.3 kg of fresh chicken livers were discovered arranged in five piles. The food was strategically placed at equal intervals, suggesting the intention for it to be consumed by wild animals. This is a concerning act, as many wild animals, such as deer and Asian black bears, inhabit the area.
If animals become accustomed to human food, it could lead to human injuries or traffic accidents. The foundation emphasized the need for people to stop illegal dumping in the national park, as it poses a danger to both wildlife and visitors.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
