Black bear hunt continues in Japan’s Utsunomiya as 94 schools remain closed
The hunt for a black bear spotted more than a dozen times in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya continued on Tuesday as all 94 municipal primary and middle schools were closed for a second straight day. The adult bear, with an estimated weight of about 100 kg (220 lbs), was last seen early on Tuesday morning some 700 metres (765 yards) from a university campus, according to the city. The same bear is believed to have been seen on Saturday evening in the first-ever ursine sightin
Authorities in Utsunomiya, Japan, are continuing their search for a black bear that has been sighted multiple times in the city. The presence of the approximately 100 kg bear has led to the closure of all 94 municipal schools for a second day. This incident occurs amidst a national increase in bear encounters, with the government forming a task force to address rising casualties, which reached a record high in the last fiscal year.
The search involves a collaborative effort of city and prefectural staff, emergency services, and hunters. Decisions on how to handle the bear, whether to tranquilize, shoot, or trap it, will depend on its location. Experts suggest that climate change affecting natural food sources and rural depopulation are contributing factors to bears venturing closer to populated areas.
The ongoing bear hunt and school closures highlight a growing concern over human-wildlife conflict in Japan, driven by environmental factors and population shifts.
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