Educational institutions in Utsunomiya, a city near Tokyo, have been closed for two days due to bear sightings. Bears have been increasingly active in urban areas, posing a significant threat to public safety. This year, four people have died from bear attacks in Japan.
The recent sightings in Utsunomiya have prompted authorities to close schools as a precautionary measure. Local police and hunters are actively searching for the bears. Despite efforts, the exact location of the bears remains unknown.
A bear was recently spotted on the campus of Utsunomiya University, adding to the growing concern. Authorities tranquilized and captured a bear in a densely populated residential area, providing some relief to residents.
In a separate incident, a bear attacked four people in Fukushima and entered an electronics factory. Despite attempts to capture it using sedatives and traps, the bear escaped. The mayor of Fukushima expressed regret for not being able to capture the 'highly intelligent' bear.
A government report highlighted that bear sightings have doubled in the past year, with 13 deaths reported from bear attacks. Despite being a threatened species globally, the population of Asian black bears in Japan has tripled since 2012. The government has allowed local municipalities to hunt bears in residential areas if necessary.
