A man in his 20s was attacked by a wild brown bear while hiking on a trail on Mount Rausu, Hokkaido island, northern Japan on the morning of 14/8. He fought back with bear spray, but it was unsuccessful.
"He tried to push the bear away, but it dragged him into the nearby forest," his hiking companion recounted. The companion alerted the police, who quickly launched a search.
Police later found the man's wallet containing his ID card, along with a shredded shirt on blood-soaked ground. Other belongings, including a watch, hat, and bear spray, were also recovered. His body was found on the afternoon of 15/8.
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A brown bear in Shari town, Hokkaido in 2022. Photo: Mainichi |
A brown bear in Shari town, Hokkaido in 2022. Photo: Mainichi
An official in Shari town, where Mount Rausu is located, said hunters captured and killed a bear near the trail. Authorities will conduct DNA testing to determine if it was the bear involved in the attack.
This is the 56th bear attack reported nationwide since April, with 4 fatalities, according to the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Japan recorded 219 bear attacks, resulting in 6 deaths, the highest number since the Ministry began keeping records in 2006.
Last month, hunters killed a brown bear in Fukushima town, Hokkaido after a man's body was discovered. Shari town also urged hikers to be vigilant following reports of brown bears exhibiting less fear of humans.
Hokkaido prefecture issued a brown bear warning around Mount Rausu, advising hikers to back away slowly and quietly if they encounter a bear in the forest.
"Do not throw rocks or yell and run, as this may agitate the bear," officials warned, adding that hikers should turn back if they see bear tracks or droppings.
The Shiretoko Nature Foundation recommends carrying bear spray while hiking for safety.
The increasing number of bear attacks is raising concerns, especially considering the declining brown bear population and habitat in Japan. Hokkaido authorities reported unprecedented levels of brown bear hunting, with a record 1,804 bears captured in the 12 months leading up to 3/2024.
According to estimates released this month, the brown bear population in Hokkaido decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since 1991. At the end of 2023, there were approximately 11,600 brown bears in Hokkaido, a decrease of 500 from the year before.
Huyen Le (AFP, Japan Times)
