A dramatic bear hunt in a midsize Japanese city could be a harbinger of what is to come
Utsunomiya's dramatic three-day ordeal with an at-large bear could be a mere sign of what's to come for Japanese cities.
Utsunomiya, a city in Tochigi Prefecture, was in a state of turmoil in early June due to a bear causing havoc. The bear's rampage led to the closure of schools, residents checking their gardens for signs of the animal, and the deployment of specialists from the local zoo. The chase concluded when a zookeeper tranquilized the bear near a private residence. This incident, widely reported on TV and the internet, is part of a trend of increasing conflicts between humans and bears in Japan.
Last fiscal year saw the highest number of bear-related incidents in Japan, with 238 attacks and 13 deaths. The country is now preparing for another pre-hibernation surge in sightings, encounters, and attacks this fall. Experts suggest that the rich acorn harvest this year will keep many bears well-fed, potentially preventing a repeat of last autumn's events. However, in the medium to long term, Japan's bear issues will persist, with incidents like the one in Utsunomiya serving as a warning for other communities.
The central government responded to the growing bear threat by compiling an emergency bear attack prevention plan and releasing a roadmap for the next decade. The plan aims to reduce the bear population in the Tohoku, Kanto, and Chubu regions by tripling the number of municipal officials handling bear management and doubling the bear traps. Hokkaido, home to an estimated 11,600 brown bears, plans to reduce its population to 8,200 by 2030.
Professor Mayumi Yokoyama of the University of Hyogo, a member of an expert panel on bear management measures, advocates for a long-term, evidence-based approach to bear management. While the government's recent measures are welcome, Yokoyama emphasizes that it will take years to develop enough specialists and accumulate data. She points out that other species, such as deer, boars, and monkeys, have also expanded their habitats, intensifying crop damage.
In response to the Environment Ministry's request, the Science Council of Japan proposed a list of solutions, including scientific monitoring of wildlife populations, community-based solutions for abandoned farmlands, utilization of wild meat, and nurturing wildlife management experts. However, government efforts have not been sustained, according to Yokoyama.
Municipal governments are now competing for the limited number of wildlife management specialists in the country and need to educate more of them to ensure a long-term career in this field.
Another challenge is the lack of precise data and human resources for continued monitoring in many prefectures. For example, the Niigata Prefectural Government raised the estimated median number of bears in the prefecture from around 1,400 to 8,747, a sixfold increase. Some prefectures have managed bear populations better than others.
In Hyogo Prefecture, officials and researchers have monitored bear populations for over 25 years, starting a program to capture and release bears that venture too close to human settlements. The prefecture now has a database of some 3,000 microchipped bears, which helps estimate the population.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
