Bear war results in record deaths and injuries in Japan

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment announced on Saturday (December 6) that the period from April to November of this year saw 13 deaths and 217 injuries, bringing the total number of victims to 230. This surpasses the previous record set in 2023 (219 victims). The number of deaths has also more than doubled compared to last year (6 deaths).

Invasion of residential areas and environmental degradation

In contrast, the number of bears hunted during the same period reached 9,867. This is also the highest number ever recorded, reflecting the escalating conflict between humans and animals.

Most of the attacks were concentrated in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, with Akita (66) and Iwate (37) prefectures recording the highest number of victims.

Ninety-seven percent of human casualties this year are attributed to Asiatic black bears, whose departure from their traditional habitats and incursions into urban and residential areas have increased dramatically. The Asahi Shimbun reports that 66% of deaths and injuries from bear attacks this year occurred in residential areas and rice paddies.

Climate change and aging are behind the crisis

Experts attribute this phenomenon to a combination of environmental and social factors. Climate change has led to the failure of beech nut crops, a primary food source for bears, forcing them to venture into human-populated areas in search of food.

The aging and declining population in rural areas has contributed to the neglect of forested areas, which form natural buffer zones between bears and human communities.

The declining rural population has also led to a decrease in the number of hunters able to control the bear population, according to Kyodo News.

The government’s plan to confront the “bears”

To counter this escalation, the Japanese government allocated 3.4 billion yen (approximately 32.3 billion South Korean won) in its supplementary budget. This was approved by the Cabinet last month as part of “anti-bear measures.”

These measures include provisions for reorganizing retired police officers and members of the Self-Defense Forces to become “armed hunters,” as well as providing local governments with hunting equipment and drone surveillance systems.