Surviving together: In Japan’s mountains, a different way to manage bears
INA (Japan), Sept 2 — As a sensor sounded, scientist Akiko Takii hurried to a bear trap deep in the forests o...
In Japan's Nagano region, a novel approach to managing Asiatic black bears is gaining traction as an alternative to widespread culling. Since its launch in 1995, the pioneering management plan has focused on trapping, tagging, and releasing the animals, rather than killing them. Scientist Akiko Takii and her colleagues tranquilize bears, collect samples, and then release them back into the wild.
The program's goal is to allow bears to live out their natural lifespans, contributing to a healthy bear population. Additional measures, such as trained Karelian Bear Dogs and extensive fencing, also help deter human-bear encounters. The initiative has reportedly aided in the recovery of bear numbers and reduced the frequency of attacks.
Despite the success, public sentiment remains divided, with some residents favoring a more aggressive culling approach to protect human safety.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
