With 12 deaths reported across more than 100 bear-related attacks in Japan since April, the government on Wednesday (November 5) deployed soldiers of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in the northern city of Kazuno to trap the animals. The move comes after a record number of bear sightings and attacks on humans in the country in recent years, with Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto telling Reuters that townspeople “feel the danger every day”.
What’s behind the rising tensions over bears in Japan?
It’s not that bears are unknown to Japan. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are observed frequently in Hokkaido, the northernmost of the four main Japanese islands, while Black bears (Selenarctos thibetanus) are native to other forest areas. Forests are also plentiful in Japan. Despite industrialisation, forests still cover around 67% of the total area. One reason is the topography — mountains and hills occupy more than 70% of the land.
Historically, specialised hunters were engaged to trap and kill bears, who were then coveted for their fur or as a source of ingredients for medicinal products. Of late, however, the dangerous profession is not finding many takers.
Larger shifts, such as climate change impacting the growth of food sources, and Japan’s high rural-to-urban migration, are also making bears venture beyond their earlier range to more villages, increasing the chances of man-animal conflict.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
