A horrific incident occurred in Hokkaido, Japan, in which a man in his 20s was attacked and killed b..

사진 확대 This is a broadcast report about a man in his 20s who died after being attacked by a brown bear. It is a notice indicating the location of the death accident and the curfew. [Picture = HBC]

A horrific incident occurred in Hokkaido, Japan, in which a man in his 20s was attacked and killed by a brown bear.

According to Japan’s Hokkaido Television Broadcasting (HTB) on the 18th, a 26-year-old office worker Keisuke Soda, who visited Mount Rausdake in eastern Hokkaido, was reported missing at around 11 a.m. on the 14th of this month.

Soda, who went hiking with his friend at the time, walked about 200 meters ahead and suddenly collapsed screaming. It is said that he was taken into the forest after being bitten on the thigh by a bear.

The accompanying friend chased the bear, but he did not see Soda, and immediately reported him at the scene and asked for help. However, the rescue team did not find Soda either. Eventually, Soda was found dead dozens of meters from the site of the attack on the 15th, the next day.

Soda’s body was said to have been severely damaged in the lower half and left scars all over his body. Soda’s wallet, bear repellent spray and wristwatches were found nearby. Police announced bleeding from multiple general trauma as the cause of death.

사진 확대 This is the scene of the incident during a broadcast report about a man in his 20s who died after being attacked by a brown bear. [Picture = HBC]

Later, a mother and three cubs were found near the scene and killed. Through genetic testing, police will check whether any of these bears have attacked soda.

Meanwhile, local governments received complaints about “why did you kill a cub?” in response to the news. Some have reportedly made more than dozens of protest calls, including “the search for missing persons is a waste of taxes” and “the world’s natural heritage should not be damaged.”

In response, local authorities explained, “[The bear shooting] was a measure to ensure safety.”

Recently, Japan has been suffering from an increase in bear population. In 2023, 219 cases of human injuries or deaths from bear bites were reported across Japan. This is the highest figure since 2006, when the tally began.

In Hokkaido, famous for its dense brown bear habitat, a 52-year-old man, a newspaper delivery man, was also found dead after being attacked by a brown bear in July.