Japan bear project aims to show coexistence, not culling, can prevent attacks
As a sensor sounded, scientist Akiko Takii hurried to a bear trap deep in the forests of Nagano in Japan, where rising nationwide attacks have brought fear and resulted in the culling of thousands of the animals. “It’s a small bear, I think, about a year and a half old,” Takii said as she peered at the 15kg (33lbs) Asiatic black bear thrashing in the cage. “It must have just parted from mum.” Its…
A new management plan aimed at fostering coexistence with bears, rather than culling them, is being implemented in Japan's Nagano region. This approach, launched in 1995, has successfully aided the recovery of bear populations and reduced encounters with humans. The program involves trapping, tagging, and releasing bears, as well as employing trained Karelian Bear Dogs to keep bears away and installing fencing near farms and towns.
Scientists and researchers collect blood and fur samples to monitor bear movement and health. Despite the ongoing challenges, including depopulation and urbanization leading to changes in bear behavior, the coexistence program in Nagano has shown promise. Compared to other northern prefectures, Nagano has experienced fewer bear-related incidents, with only 11 recorded in the last year, including one fatality, compared to 59 incidents and four deaths in Akita and five in Iwate.
However, the results are not universally embraced, as there is limited public support for maintaining healthy bear populations across Japan.
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.
