Bear attacks in Japan

Warmer climate and fewer acorns – experts on deadly bear attacks

According to experts, the increase in fatal bear attacks in Japan in recent years can be linked to several factors, including reduced acorn harvests, reports the Guardian. This in turn has caused the bears to move further away from their natural areas in search of food.

The reduced population has also affected the bears' behavior. Previously cultivated land, which served as a natural boundary between forest, mountains and cities, has been abandoned and these boundaries have now been blurred.

There are also signs that climate change has played a role. With milder winters, bears have begun to hibernate later than usual, which has increased the risks of encounters between people and bears.

The call: Learn what to do in the event of an attack

Bear attacks resulting in death or serious injuries have become an almost daily feature of Japanese news headlines. And it is no longer just in the forests that the attacks occur - recently bears have increasingly moved into major cities.

Therefore, not only hikers, but also city dwellers are now being urged to learn how to act in the event of a bear attack, reports The Guardian.

The general advice given by both authorities and the media is to avoid eye contact and sudden movements, and to back up slowly without turning your back.

So far this year, ten fatal bear attacks have been recorded, the highest number ever.

The military may be called in after the fatal bear attacks

The governor of the Japanese region of Akita, Kenta Suzuki, is appealing to the military for help after the number of fatal bear attacks has reached record levels this year, reports AFP.

“The lives of our citizens cannot be protected without the support of the military,” Suzuki said.

So far this year, ten people have died as a result of bear attacks—an increase from last year’s record of six deaths.

The country’s new defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, responded to Suzuki’s request and said the government would do everything it could to restore security.