TOKYO: A Japanese governor has formally requested military assistance to combat a surge in deadly bear attacks described as truly dire.
Bear-related fatalities have reached 10 people this year, surpassing the previous record of six deaths in the fiscal year ending March 2024.
The animals are increasingly encroaching on urban areas due to factors including human population decline and climate change impacts.
Akita Prefecture Governor Kenta Suzuki told Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi that citizen safety requires Self-Defense Forces support.
“Attacks targeting the neck and face are extremely common, resulting in a truly dire situation,” he stated.
Suzuki noted bears now appear not only in mountains but also within urban communities.
He described the disruption to daily life for all residents as abnormal.
Newly appointed Defence Minister Koizumi pledged the government would utilise all available capabilities and authority to restore public safety.
An Environment Ministry official confirmed the death toll had reached 10 fatalities.
The latest incident involved four people attacked in an Akita mountain village last week.
Recent fatalities potentially linked to bear attacks include a woman found dead near Akita rice fields on Monday.
A man and his dog were also found deceased in neighbouring Iwate region with apparent attack injuries.
Bears have targeted tourists, entered stores, and appeared near schools and parks across northern Japan.
Food shortages including acorn scarcity driven by climate change are forcing hungry bears into towns.
Warmer weather affects bear hibernation patterns, increasing human encounters.
Japan hosts two bear species: Asian black bears and larger brown bears on Hokkaido island.
Many bears are shot annually despite declining numbers of hunters in Japan’s ageing society.
Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara recently characterised bear attacks as a serious problem requiring strengthened measures.
The government commits to enhancing hunter training and bear population management strategies. – AFP
