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Japanese Military Called in as Bear Attacks Reach Record Highs
TOKYO – In an unprecedented move, Japan’s military has deployed troops to the northern reaches of the country to combat a surge in bear attacks, which have reached a 15-year high. This marks a critical escalation in efforts to protect residents from increasingly bold wildlife encounters.
Since April, approximately 100 people across Japan have been attacked by bears, resulting in at least 13 fatalities, according to data from the Japanese Ministry of Environment. These incidents, primarily concentrated in the mountainous northern regions, are now occurring almost daily in areas near human habitation. Reports place bear sightings near supermarkets, bus stations, schools, and even a local hot springs resort, prompting local officials to issue advisories urging residents to remain indoors after dark and avoid dense woodlands.
With local authorities overwhelmed, the Self-Defense Force (SDF) has stepped in at their request. Military commander Yasunori Matsunaga affirmed the severity of the situation during a signing ceremony with Akita Prefecture authorities on Wednesday. “We recognize that the harm caused by bears is in a critical situation in Akita Prefecture,” Matsunaga stated, adding, “Starting today, we will begin carrying out our mission while taking various needs into consideration.”
SDF troops, equipped with bear spray and protective shields, will assist in setting up steel-barred box traps, transporting local hunters to areas where bears have been sighted, and helping with the disposal of captured animals. Akita Prefecture Governor Kenta Suzuki expressed his “heartfelt gratitude” for the SDF’s intervention, confirming that the initial deployment would focus on Kazuno city, with operations gradually expanding to other municipalities by the end of the month.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized that the SDF’s involvement is to “protect the lives and livelihoods” of residents in this unique situation. However, he also clarified that the SDF’s primary mission remains national defense, indicating that their involvement in bear countermeasures cannot be indefinite.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by recent incidents, including a 77-year-old man sustaining injuries while delivering newspapers in Akita city on Tuesday, and a 79-year-old woman found dead in the woods of Akita Prefecture on Monday following a bear attack. In the broader Akita Prefecture alone, more than 50 people have been attacked since May, with at least four fatalities among the area’s 880,000 residents.
Kazuno Mayor Shinji Sasamoto described the daily fear among townspeople after meeting with 15 soldiers who arrived in army trucks and jeeps, equipped with body armor and detailed maps. “It has affected how people live their lives, forcing them to stop going out or cancel events,” Sasamoto told Reuters.
Japan is home to two primary bear species: the Asiatic black bear and the Hokkaido brown bear. Experts attribute the escalating incidents to a combination of factors, including a growing bear population, the ongoing migration of people from rural to urban areas, a declining number of hunters due to an aging population, and the impact of climate change on food availability and hibernation patterns.