A bear sighted near schools and residential areas in Utsunomiya was captured following a dayslong hunt.
The city of Utsunomiya had been on high alert following reports of a bear sighting near schools and residential areas since the weekend. Authorities carried out a dayslong hunt that concluded with the animal’s capture. The incident took place in the Tochigi Prefecture capital, where officials prioritized public safety.
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Bear encounters are increasing across Japan, prompting manufacturers to develop new deterrents and officials to highlight safety concerns in a recent white paper.
Schools in a Tokyo suburb will receive bear sprays amid a rise in bear attacks.
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Japan has started installing hundreds of cameras in its northern mountains to survey bear populations after a surge in attacks that have killed at least five people since April 1.
A bear was filmed in Kolarmora outside Gimo last Saturday. The area is a known bear habitat according to county officials.
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A wildfire in northeastern Japan came under control after 11 days, scorching 1,633 hectares of land. Local officials and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed the status on Saturday. The blaze, the second largest in over 30 years, began on April 22 in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture.
The 2026 bear license hunt in Dalarna County covers a total of 50 animals, a reduction from previous years. A new female quota is also being introduced.
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Police in Oita City, Oita Prefecture, have re-arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of killing an 18-year-old girl in March. The man was initially arrested on April 12 for abandoning her body. The girl was last seen leaving home at 11:30 p.m. on March 2.