Key Points
- Japan records over 50,000 bear sightings in a year
- 13 people were killed in bear attacks last year
- Residents urged to stay indoors
TOKYO: A large-scale search operation was under way in a Japanese city on Monday after repeated sightings of a bear roaming through residential neighbourhoods and commercial districts prompted authorities to close 94 public schools as a precaution.
Officials in Utsunomiya, a city located north of Tokyo with a population of around 510,000, ordered the closure of all public primary and junior high schools following more than ten reported bear sightings since Saturday.
The incidents, which occurred across several parts of the city, have heightened concerns about public safety and renewed attention on Japan’s increasing encounters with wild bears in urban areas.
The first sighting was reported on Saturday morning in an area north of the city centre. Witnesses described the animal as being approximately one metre in length.
Subsequent reports placed the bear in a residential district later that day, before it was seen in a shopping arcade on Sunday and near several educational institutions and public spaces.
By early Monday, residents reported another sighting near a wholesale market, prompting authorities to expand search efforts and strengthen public warnings.
City officials said patrol vehicles had been deployed to locations where the bear had been spotted in order to alert residents and encourage them to remain indoors or stay inside their vehicles whenever possible.
Dozens of hunters, police officers and local government personnel have joined the search operation in an effort to locate the animal and prevent any potential attacks.
Authorities have not yet determined whether all the sightings involve a single bear or multiple animals moving through the city. The uncertainty has complicated efforts to track and capture the creature.
The unprecedented school closures reflect growing concerns about wildlife venturing into populated areas across Japan. While Utsunomiya recorded only two unconfirmed bear sightings during the previous year, the latest series of reports has alarmed residents and officials alike.
Japan has experienced a sharp rise in bear encounters in recent years, particularly in urban and suburban environments. Experts have linked the trend to habitat pressures, changing environmental conditions and food shortages that increasingly drive wild animals closer to human settlements.
The issue has become a significant public safety concern nationwide. According to official figures, bear sightings across Japan exceeded 50,000 during the 12 months ending in March, more than double the previous record set just two years earlier.
Fatal encounters have also increased. Last year, 13 people were killed in bear attacks across the country, the highest number ever recorded. Authorities say bears emerging from hibernation are often in search of food, increasing the likelihood of encounters with people.
The developments in Utsunomiya underscore the challenges facing local governments as they seek to balance public safety with wildlife management amid a growing number of incidents involving bears entering populated areas.
Search teams remained on alert throughout Monday as authorities continued efforts to locate the animal and assess whether additional safety measures would be required in the coming days.
