In the Japanese city of Utsunomiya, the search for a black bear continued on Tuesday after it was spotted more than a dozen times, leading all 94 municipal elementary and junior high schools to remain closed for a second consecutive day. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
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According to city authorities, an adult bear weighing approximately 100 kg (220 lbs) was last seen early Tuesday morning about 700 meters from a university campus. The same bear is believed to have been spotted on Saturday evening, marking the first-ever recorded appearance of a bear in the city, located about 100 km (60 miles) north of Tokyo.
The number of bear attacks, particularly in urban areas, has risen in Japan, prompting the government to establish a special task force this year to reduce casualties. According to the Ministry of the Environment, a record 238 casualties, including 13 fatalities, were recorded in the country during the 2023 fiscal year.
Asian black bears are listed as a vulnerable species globally; however, their population in Japan is estimated to have tripled since 2012, aided by a decline in hunting.
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A spokesperson for the Utsunomiya city government said a team consisting of municipal and prefectural employees, the fire department, and members of a hunters' association is continuing the search for the animal. Depending on exactly where the bear is found, a decision will be made whether to tranquilize it, shoot it, or trap it for later release into the wild, the official added.
Experts note that climate change has led to a decrease in the harvest of bears' natural food sources, such as acorns and beech nuts, while the depopulation of rural areas and the increase in abandoned farmland have emboldened them to seek food near human settlements.