A robot named Monster Wolf, equipped with sensors capable of detecting wildlife, was installed to scare away bears, in Takikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, on October 17, 2024. SAKURA MURAKAMI / REUTERS
On October 17, the dismembered body of an employee at a ryokan (a traditional inn) in Iwate, northeastern Japan, was found in the woods near his workplace. The man had been attacked the previous day by a bear while cleaning an outdoor hot spring bath. Rescuers later killed an animal near the area.
The man in his 60s became the seventh victim of a bear attack since April 1, a record since data collection began in 2006. In total, 108 people were injured between April and September. During the 2024 fiscal year ending in March, three people were killed and 80 injured. The depopulation of rural areas, as well as climate change, have led to more bear attacks even in city centers, forcing Japan to reconsider its relationship with the mammal.
“Encounters with bears in mountainous and wild areas are becoming more frequent. Two of the deaths in October occurred while the victims were picking mushrooms,” said Minister of the Environment Keiichiro Asao on October 17. The minister also recalled incidents of bears entering homes and shops, and urged the public to heed information provided by local authorities.
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