Japan has dispatched soldiers to assist in controlling a recent surge of bear attacks that have been causing fear among residents in a mountainous area in Akita, a northern prefecture. These attacks, involving both brown bears and Asiatic black bears, have been occurring frequently as the bears search for food before hibernation. Incidents have been reported near schools, train stations, supermarkets, and a hot springs resort, resulting in over 100 injuries and at least 12 fatalities since April.
The encroachment of the expanding bear population into residential zones is particularly concerning in a region with an aging and diminishing human population that lacks sufficient individuals trained in bear hunting. The government estimates the bear population to exceed 54,000.
In response to the escalating situation, the Defence Ministry and Akita prefecture have collaborated to deploy soldiers for various tasks such as setting box traps, assisting local hunters, and removing dead bears. Officials have clarified that the soldiers will not resort to using firearms against the bears.
The operation commenced in Kazuno city, where numerous bear sightings and injuries have been reported. Soldiers in white helmets and bulletproof vests equipped with bear spray and net launchers set up traps in strategic locations. Local residents have been severely impacted by bear activities, with one orchard operator expressing distress over bears consuming a significant portion of his apple harvest.
Local authorities, including Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki, have expressed desperation due to manpower shortages in dealing with the bear issue. While the bear mission aims to safeguard the public, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized that the primary duty of service members is national defense, and their support for bear-related matters is not unlimited due to existing understaffing within the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
The aging and declining population in rural areas of Japan have been identified as contributing factors to the bear problem, as abandoned neighborhoods and farmlands with fruit-bearing trees often attract bears to inhabited areas. Experts advocate for controlled culling of the bear population, as well as training police and other authorities as “government hunters” to address the issue effectively.
Furthermore, the government has established a task force to develop an official bear response plan by mid-November, focusing on measures such as bear population surveys, enhanced communication for bear warnings, and revisions to hunting regulations to address the lack of preventive actions in northern regions leading to the bear population increase.