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Japan authorizes police to shoot bears amid spike in fatal attacks
Japan has revised its regulations to allow riot police to use rifles to shoot bears, following a surge in deadly bear attacks across the country. Since early April, thirteen people have died—more than double the total from last year—and over 100 have been injured in bear-related incidents. Experts suggest that factors such as climate change and rural depopulation may have contributed to the increase in human-bear encounters.
Under the new rules, rifle-armed riot police will be deployed in the northeastern prefectures of Akita and Iwate, where most of the attacks have occurred. The National Police Agency said officers will receive information from local hunting associations about bear behavior before beginning operations on November 13.
Conventional police handguns are not powerful enough to kill bears, according to the Jiji news agency. As a result, firearms regulations have been revised to allow rifles to be used for wildlife control by law enforcement.
In addition, the military has been dispatched to support police operations in the two prefectures, though soldiers are unarmed and will not hunt bears. They will assist with transporting bear traps, hunters, and captured animals, and are equipped with bear sprays, shields, protective glasses, batons, bulletproof vests, and net launchers.
Experts note that a shortage of natural food, particularly acorns, has driven some bears—whose populations are increasing—to venture into towns, particularly in northern prefectures. Rural depopulation has also blurred the traditional boundaries between urban areas and bear habitats, encouraging bears to expand into residential zones. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government held a special meeting last week and announced that a comprehensive action plan to address the crisis will be presented by mid-November.
