Story perspectives
Bear Attacks Surge in Japan, Five Fatalities Reported
9/5/2025
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Story summary
- Japan's Environment Ministry recorded 69 bear attacks from April to August 2025, causing five fatalities.
- This figure is close to the fiscal 2023 high of 71 attacks.
- Nagano and Iwate reported the most attacks, each with 13 incidents.
- Bear sightings surged to 12,067, a 40% increase from last year.
- The Wildlife Protection Act permits "emergency shootings" of bears in populated areas.
