Deadly bear attacks in Japan: Military forces sent to protect population after record sightings
A rise in bear attacks in Japan has seen military intervention used as a solution.
In the northern Japanese region of Akita Prefecture, a spike in bear-human encounters has ended with a sharp response from local authorities: bringing in the army. While this might seem out of proportion, rather amazingly, since April, over 100 people across Japan have been injured by bears and at least 12 have died.
Local officials say the surge in incidents is particularly severe in towns such as Kazuno, where sightings have increased six-fold, with more than 8,000 recorded this year alone. In response, the national government has deployed soldiers from the Japan Self‑Defense Forces to assist local authorities in logistics, setting traps, and disposing of captured animals.
Military commander Yasunori Matsunaga said Wednesday during a signing ceremony between the defence ministry and authorities in the northern region: “We recognise that the harm caused by bears is in a critical situation in Akita Prefecture. Starting today, we will begin carrying out our mission while taking various needs into consideration,” he said.
“The townspeople feel the danger every day”
The good news is that the military personnel are not authorised to shoot the bears: instead, they transport and install box-traps, support local hunters, and handle post-capture disposal.
As for the causes of this sudden increase in attacks, the numbers point to a rise in bear populations across Japan coupled with waning natural food sources. That reduction may be driving bears into human-inhabited zones in search of sustenance.
As such, residents have been urged to stay out of forested areas after dark, to carry bells or other noise-making devices to warn off bears, and to limit outdoor movement whenever possible. Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto said that: “It has affected how people live their lives, forcing them to stop going out or cancel events,” adding that “the townspeople feel the danger every day.”
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The timing is also key: experts say the new measures must be implemented now, ahead of the hibernation season when bears intensify their foraging behaviour.
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