Focus

Bear attacks in Japan increase at unprecedented pace

22 Oct 2023 06:53pm
Image for illustrative purposes only. – FILE PIX
Image for illustrative purposes only. – FILE PIX

TOKYO - Japan is seeing the number of people attacked by bears in fiscal 2023 increase at an unprecedented pace, reported Xinhua, quoting local media on Sunday.

A total of 109 people were hurt, two fatally, between April and September, mostly in the northern part of Japan's main island Honshu, Kyodo News said, citing the environment ministry's preliminary data released in early October.

The number marks the highest for the same period since fiscal 2007 when such monthly statistics became available, the report said.

Attacks have been reported in 15 of Japan's 47 prefectures during the six-month period from April, with around 70 per cent of cases in northeastern Japan, according to the data.

By prefecture, Akita had the most victims, with 28 people, followed by Iwate and Fukushima with 27 and 13 people, respectively, Kyodo News reported.

Meanwhile, this year is seeing a poor nut season, forcing bears to venture to greater areas, including near human habitats, to seek food as they prepare for hibernation, it added.

The current record for the highest number of people wounded by the animals, which include Asian black bears and Ussuri brown bears, is 158 in fiscal 2020. - BERNAMA-XINHUA

Related Articles:

Japan
bears
attack
statistics
More Like This
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) applauds with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa (2R) as Spain's second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz (2L) stands with Palestinian labor minister Enas Attari after signing bilateral accords during a signing ceremony at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, on November 21, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) applauds with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa (2R) as Spain's second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz (2L) stands with Palestinian labor minister Enas Attari after signing bilateral accords during a signing ceremony at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, on November 21, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
World Spain holds first talks with Palestinian govt since recognising state
The aim is to "help promote Palestine's statehood at the international level" and encourage other nations to follow the example of Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia.
This handout photograph taken by Press Wing of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser and released on November 21, 2024, shows nobel laureate and chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus (R) with former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia (2L) at a reception to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
This handout photograph taken by Press Wing of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser and released on November 21, 2024, shows nobel laureate and chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus (R) with former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia (2L) at a reception to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
World Bangladesh ex-PM makes first public appearance in six years
The ferocious rivalry between the two former premiers -- born in blood and cemented in prison -- has defined politics in the Muslim-majority nation for decades.
This image shows an artist’s impression of the star WOH G64, the first star outside our galaxy to be imaged in close-up. - Photo by AFP
This image shows an artist’s impression of the star WOH G64, the first star outside our galaxy to be imaged in close-up. - Photo by AFP
World The first 'zoomed-in' image of a star outside our galaxy
Roughly 160,000 light years from Earth, the star WOH G64 sits in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our home Milky Way.
People play World of Warcraft at an E-Sports centre in Jinzhou, in China’s central Hubei province on August 1, 2024. - AFP
People play World of Warcraft at an E-Sports centre in Jinzhou, in China’s central Hubei province on August 1, 2024. - AFP
World 'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
"WoW" was born the same year as Facebook, and comprised key elements such as online interactions and communities that would help create today's globalised social networks.