An increase in bear attacks in Japan in 2023 has been attributed to bears developing a taste for flesh, possibly due to changes in their food supply. Experts highlight the need for better management of bear populations and natural habitats, as well as innovative approaches such as AI warning systems.
In 2023, there has been a surge in bear attacks in Japan, with over 200 incidents reported for the first time. Experts attribute the increase to bears developing a taste for flesh, possibly due to consuming deer carcasses left by hunters in the mountains. Yasushi Fujimoto, head of a hunting organization, highlighted the lack of professional hunters to control bear populations.
Six people have died as a result of these attacks, including a fisherman who went missing in Hokkaido, where a bear was seen with boots in its mouth and a human head was later found. The rise in attacks coincides with adverse weather conditions affecting the bears’ usual food supply, forcing them to seek alternative sources.
Japan’s bear population has also increased, with estimates placing the number of black bears at around 44,000, excluding around 12,000 Ussuri brown bears in Hokkaido. Conservationists call for improved natural habitats for bears, while bear shootings remain controversial.
Recent incidents include a 50-year-old karate expert, Masato Fukuda, who fought off two bears in Nayoro, Hokkaido, sustaining only minor injuries. In response to growing concerns, Toyama Prefecture is trialing an AI bear warning system to monitor bears near human areas, potentially expanding this technology if successful.
