Japan deploys the army to counter a surge in bear assaults : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3333+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F0c%2F49f742e544708f8da08b1274cd27%2Fap25310068382697.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3333+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F0c%2F49f742e544708f8da08b1274cd27%2Fap25310068382697.jpg" class="img" alt="Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and others set up a box trap to capture bears in Kazuno, Akita prefecture, northern Japan on Wednesday." fetchpriority="high"/> Japan Floor Self-Protection Pressure members and others arrange a field lure to seize bears in Kazuno, Akita prefecture, northern Japan on Wednesday. Muneyoshi Someya/Kyodo Information by way of AP cover caption

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Muneyoshi Someya/Kyodo Information by way of AP TOKYO — Japan deployed troops Wednesday to assist comprise a surge of bear assaults which have terrorized residents in a mountainous area within the northern prefecture of Akita.

Stories of typically lethal encounters with brown bears and Asiatic black bears are being reported nearly each day forward of hibernation season because the bears forage for meals. They've been seen close to colleges, practice stations, supermarkets and at a scorching springs resort.

Since April, greater than 100 individuals have been injured and not less than 12 killed in bear assaults throughout Japan, in keeping with Atmosphere Ministry statistics on the finish of October.

The rising bear inhabitants's encroachment into residential areas is going on in a area with a quickly growing older and declining human inhabitants, with few individuals educated to hunt the animals.

The federal government has estimated the general bear inhabitants at greater than 54,000.

Troopers is not going to open fireplace The Protection Ministry and Akita prefecture signed an settlement Wednesday to deploy troopers who will set field traps with meals, transport native hunters and assist eliminate useless bears. Officers say the troopers is not going to use firearms to cull the bears.

"On daily basis, bears intrude into residential areas within the area and their affect is increasing," Deputy Chief Cupboard Secretary Fumitoshi Sato instructed reporters. "Responses to the bear downside are an pressing matter."

The operation started in a forested space in Kazuno metropolis, the place quite a lot of bear sightings and accidents have been reported. White-helmeted troopers sporting bulletproof vests and carrying bear spray and internet launchers arrange a bear lure close to an orchard.

Takahiro Ikeda, an orchard operator, mentioned bears have eaten greater than 200 of his apples that had been prepared for harvest. "My coronary heart is damaged," he instructed NHK tv.

Akita Gov. Kenta Suzuki mentioned native authorities had been getting "determined" because of an absence of manpower.

Protection Minister Shinjiro Koizumi mentioned Tuesday the bear mission goals to assist safe individuals's each day lives, however that service members' main mission is nationwide protection and so they can not present limitless help for the bear response. The Japanese Self-Protection Forces are already understaffed.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4512x3008+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2F5d%2F2a72661e49628acef7d8f63ebee1%2Fap25309154940737.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4512x3008+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2F5d%2F2a72661e49628acef7d8f63ebee1%2Fap25309154940737.jpg" class="img" alt="In this photo provided by the Japan Self-Defense Forces Akita Camp, Self-Defense forces personnel unload a bear cage from a military truck in JSDF Akita Camp, Akita, northern Japan, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025." loading="lazy"/> On this photograph offered by the Japan Self-Protection Forces Akita Camp, Self-Protection forces personnel unload a bear cage from a army truck in JSDF Akita Camp, Akita, northern Japan, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. AP/JSDF Akita Camp cover caption

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AP/JSDF Akita Camp The ministry has not obtained requests from different prefectures for troop help over the bear concern, he mentioned.

Most assaults in residential areas <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/08/04/53006426193_2d5458582a_k_sq-be1b78b5089ecc5ae06fa07603c9c58a04ccdbfc.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/08/04/53006426193_2d5458582a_k_sq-be1b78b5089ecc5ae06fa07603c9c58a04ccdbfc.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="Fatal grizzly attack renews debate over how many bears are too many" loading="lazy"/>

In Akita prefecture, which has a inhabitants of about 880,000, bears have attacked greater than 50 individuals since Could, killing not less than 4, in keeping with the native authorities. Consultants say most assaults have occurred in residential areas.

An older lady who went mushroom-hunting within the forest was discovered useless in an obvious assault over the weekend in Yuzawa metropolis. One other older lady in Akita metropolis was killed after encountering a bear whereas engaged on a farm in late October. A newspaper supply man was attacked and injured in Akita metropolis on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a resident of Akita metropolis noticed two bears on a persimmon tree in her backyard. She was indoors and filmed the bears as they walked round for about half-hour. She instructed a neighborhood TV community the bears appeared at one level to need to enter the room she was in, and he or she moved away from the window.

Deserted neighborhoods and farmland with persimmon or chestnut bushes typically entice bears to residential areas. As soon as bears discover meals, they hold coming again, consultants say.

A name for coaching extra hunters Consultants say Japan's growing older and declining inhabitants in rural areas is one motive for the rising downside. They are saying the bears usually are not endangered and want culling to maintain the inhabitants beneath management.

Native hunters are additionally growing older and never used to bear searching. Consultants say police and different authorities must be educated as "authorities hunters" to assist cull the animals.

The federal government arrange a activity pressure final week to create an official bear response by mid-November. Officers are contemplating bear inhabitants surveys, using communication units to concern bear warnings and revisions to searching guidelines.