Bear attacks at “record high” in Japan

Admin

October 17, 2025
3 min read

Fatal bear attacks are at a record high in Japan according to its environment ministry. Seven people have been killed since April, the highest number since 2006 when records began.

Fatal attacks are mainly concentrated in the north-eastern areas and the northern region of Hokkaido. A 60-year-old man who has gone missing after cleaning an outdoor hot spring bath is suspected to be the most recent incident.

Australian Rainforests Emitting More CO₂ Than They Absorb

New research reveals that parts of Australia’s tropical forests are shifting from carbon sinks to carbon sources.

Decline in Sunshine Hours Recorded Across India

A long-term drop in sunlight exposure raises concerns over agriculture, energy output and public health.

Kruger National Park Name Change Being Debated

Officials in South Africa are considering renaming the country’s most famous wildlife reserve amid historical discussions.

Bear attacks usually surge around autumn before the animals hibernate. Experts say that low yields of beech nuts due to climate change are pushing the animals to enter residential areas in search of food.

The environment ministry reported that the seven fatal bear attacks this year surpassed the five in 2024 by April of that year. Around 100 others have been injured this year so far, up from 85 and three fatalities in the previous 12 months.

Human blood and bear fur were found at the scene of the most recent suspected attack in the city of Kitakami in the prefecture Iwate. It comes after the confirmation that a man found dead a week earlier in Iwate was killed by a bear.

Another incident north of Tokyo in Numata, Gunma, saw a 1.4m (4.5ft) adult bear enter a supermarket and injure two men, one in his 70s and one in his 60s. The supermarket is near to a mountainous area but has never reported bears coming so close before. The store manager said, according to local media, that there were around 30 to 40 customers inside.

Japan is home to Asian black bears and the larger brown bears, found on the northern island Hokkaido.

Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.