Japanese bear attacks have been recently increasing at an alarming rate, causing residents and government leaders to take swift action across the country. At 76, Haruo Ikegami is an experienced bear hunter. Each day he gets up at dark thirty, ready to tackle the challenge of bear attacks head on. Working with a nonprofit organization called Picchio, Ikegami and his team utilize trained dogs to deter bears and employ tagging methods to track their movements. The country is undergoing an unprecedented bear boom. Specifically, the Asiatic black bear, which can grow up to five-and-a-half feet tall, is a significant threat to citizens.
To date this year, Japan has already seen at least 13 deaths and more than 200 injuries from bear attacks. Japan’s defense minister has taken the initiative further by mobilizing the Self-Defense Forces. They’re taking their show on the road to the areas hit hardest by these tragedies. Yet, as lawmakers desperately try to figure out solutions to the crisis in terms that will be accepted, the reality of the crisis makes itself known.
The Growing Threat
To Ikegami, the past 40 years has truly been a lifelong focus on bear hunting. He regards himself as the town’s last and best defense against the encroaching wild lands, which is far from predictable. The bear population has exploded over the last few years, increasing frustration and fear across the local non-tribal community. His view of the bears demonstrates an understanding of their place in the natural world—and a desire to protect public safety.
“Bears are not monsters. They’re animals that live just like us.” – Haruo Ikegami
This state of affairs has caught the eyes of many corners of society, including us at Conservation International. Hiroo Tamatani, a bear conservationist and leader of Picchio, highlights the importance of a balanced approach. Instead, he argues for more targeted culls of individual dangerous bears, rather than wholesale killings.
“Rather than killing them all, we should identify the ones that cause problems and deal with those respectively.” – Hiroo Tamatani
Although conservation persecution is an unfortunate reality for many, the grim truth is that human lives are being endangered. Local resident Katsuo Harada said he was disappointed that the coexistence has come to this.
“As long as we live here, we simply can’t coexist.” – Katsuo Harada
Encounters with Danger
The dangers presented by bad bear encounters have been shown in stark relief with tragic deaths. Tougen Yoshihara, a Japanese Shingon Buddhist monk, was forced to take extreme action after being mauled by a bear. His startling account serves as a strong reminder about the unpredictability of these wild animals.
“I fired two shots, but the bear didn’t stop. It got on top of me, pulled my gun out of my hands and bit my head.” – Tougen Yoshihara
Yoshihara’s experience resonates deeply with the community. Despite its apparent sepulchral nature, it is a terrific prompt against the threats brought about by the growing bear apocalypse. As communities consider how to live better alongside local wildlife, community sentiment is often a mixed bag. Some constituents demand drastic changes right away, but others push for a more complex solution.
Atsushi Kanno, a local resident and activist specializing in animal protection laws, spoke harshly against the lack of government response before these increased attacks.
“If the government had taken this seriously earlier, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad.” – Atsushi Kanno
Kanno’s frustration is a sentiment that resonates strongly today with many who believe that with earlier intervention, the worst of our current crisis could have been avoided.
“It’s nonsense that they’re responding now, only after things have escalated.” – Atsushi Kanno
Government Response and Future Solutions
Local and national consults around the world are cracking down on rising bear attacks and deaths. They are looking for solutions that protect public safety. The deployment of the Self-Defense Forces marks a significant step in addressing the immediate threat posed by bears in affected regions.
Conservation experts are now calling for more holistic approaches to addressing human-bear safety concerns. They want strategies that promote public safety while protecting animal welfare as policy debates play out today. Finding that unsettling balance between protecting human lives and respecting our nation’s wildlife is key to helping find the more sustainable long-term solution.
Ikegami’s feeling on the value of human life highlights just how big a hurdle this is.
“Our lives are precious to us. No person would say a bear’s life is more important than their own.” – Haruo Ikegami
With increasing awareness about the complexities of wildlife management, it is evident that effective solutions require collaboration between conservationists, hunters, and government officials.
