In case you missed the news and videos spreading throughout social media, encounters with bears in Japan have been rising recently and already there were people who got injured and the affected local communities are not gripped with fear. Already a high-level government meeting (ministerial) was held focused on the bear attacks. Elements from the local communities and government units respectively responded to the attacks.
To get started, watch and learn from the selected YouTube videos from Nippon TV below.
In its news report, NHK referred to the unfortunate series of events a bear crisis and it emphasizes the fear that people in local communities are experiencing. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the NHK report. Some parts in boldface…
Bears are rarely out of the headlines in Japan these days because they keep straying into urban areas. Attacks are rising, and a record 13 people have died this fiscal year alone.
A traditional-style inn had an uninvited guest on Friday in the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata. The bear wreaked havoc, damaging the interior and forcing the family owners to flee.
Sasaki Kazuo says he saw the animal earlier in the week and decided to close for winter earlier than planned. He said, “Bears have probably roamed near the inn before, but they never entered the building.“
Local hunters shot the animal under an emergency order.
Communities across the region are worried. Some parents in Iwate Prefecture have asked school buses to drop their children off as close to home as possible.
Taxi and school bus operator Sugimoto Shutaro said, “Buses can’t use narrow roads, so keeping children safe is a challenge.”
The flurry of sightings and attacks has left many people wondering why. Experts say the bears are probably hungry, and leaving their natural habitat in search of something to eat.
Koike Shinsuke, a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, said, “They could be roaming a wider area because acorns, which are their main food source in autumn, may be in short supply along with other nuts too.“
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you aware that even small bears are capable of chasing and attacking tall people in close encounters? Have you ever experienced facing an actual bear in person? Do you know that powerful attacks by a bear could cripple you or even end your life?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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