TOKYO – The number of bear attack victims in Japan in the seven months through October totalled 196, a record high for the same period in the past five years, the country’s Environment Ministry said on Nov 17.
In October alone, the number reached 88, more than double the 39 recorded in September. By prefecture, Akita prefecture saw the highest number of victims in the April to October period, followed by Iwate and Fukushima prefectures.
As at Nov 5, there were a record high of 13 fatalities due to bear attacks since April, according to the ministry.
In October, a research team at Sophia University in Tokyo has released an online “Bear Encounter AI Prediction Map” that estimates the likelihood of human-bear contact in 19 regions, aiming to reduce the frequency of attacks.
The map uses artificial intelligence to forecast bear-related risks in areas such as Sapporo in Japan’s northernmost Hokkaido and Akita prefecture in Honshu, the country’s main island, drawing on regional environmental data and reported sightings.
The team hopes the tool will help residents, tourists and local governments better prepare for bear activity in their areas, as
attacks have become a growing concern
even in cities and towns.
The Japanese government on Nov 14 beefed up existing countermeasures against bears in response to the recent increase in attacks on human, including offering financial and logistical support to help municipalities employ licensed hunters. KYODO
AnimalsWildlifeAnimal anticsJapan
AloJapan.com