More and more attacks in Japan Bear terrorizes residents and attacks supermarket
Bear alert in northern Japan: attacks by the animals have been on the rise for years, causing increasing headaches for the authorities. In Akita City, a particularly spectacular incident is now causing a stir.
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- In the northern Japanese city of Akita City, a bear terrified residents for two days.
- The animal attacked an employee in a supermarket and was only caught by the authorities after two days.
- Incidents involving bears have become more frequent in Japan in recent years. Experts blame this on man-made climate change, among other things.
It is just the latest in a series of incidents involving bears in Japan: in Akita City on the island of Honshu, a bear terrorized residents on Saturday and even attacked a supermarket, according to Japanese media reports.
According to the report, the animal attacked a store employee. The 47-year-old suffered a minor head injury, according to the police. It took two days before the authorities were finally able to lure the animal into a trap. In the meantime, the bear rummaged through the meat department and damaged shelves, according to the supermarket manager.
The bear remained in the store after the attack on the worker, so the authorities sent a drone into the store on Sunday to find it.
Police with protective shields on bear hunt
According to local media footage, police officers wearing protective clothing and carrying shields entered the supermarket through an entrance covered with plastic sheeting. The bear was later found in the storage area, so staff set up a box trap with honey and apples to lure the intruder. It was finally captured on Monday and later euthanized, a spokesman for Akita City Hall told CNN.
The number of bear attacks in the prefecture is higher than usual this year after reaching a record last year, the spokesman said. According to NHK, Japan also recorded the highest number of injuries or property damage as a result of bear attacks during the measurement period, which ended in March.
Climate change disrupts diet
Bear attacks are a growing concern for Japanese authorities, especially in the north, where mountain ranges and lush forests provide an ideal habitat and retreat.
Experts also attribute the increase in incidents to man-made climate change. This is because it is affecting flowering and pollination processes and thus traditional food sources.
The bears are therefore increasingly forced to venture into urban areas in search of food.
