Black bear in Japan attacks police searching for missing person in forest

Japan's Akita Prefectural Police Department said on the afternoon of May 18, two police officers of this prefecture were attacked by bears while searching for missing people in a forest in Kazuno city.

Both police officers were taken to hospital for treatment and their injuries are not life-threatening.

According to a VNA reporter in Japan, the scene of the incident was the Towada Oyu forest, in Kazuno city, south of Towada lake, bordering Akita and Aomori provinces.

One police officer in his 20s suffered injuries to his face and shoulder, while the other in his 40s suffered injuries to his arms and legs after being attacked by a black bear.

The two policemen were among nine people deployed to search the forest after locals reported two missing people in the forest on May 15 and 18, both men in their 60s.

The two missing people have not yet been found. The search will continue on May 19, but will be supported by helicopters to ensure the safety of the search team.

Many mountainous areas in Japan have been facing a situation of aggressive bears attacking people in recent years.

According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, in fiscal 2023, there were 219 recorded cases of bear attacks, with 6 deaths.

In early March, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, installed surveillance cameras that use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to promptly detect bears approaching residential areas. The surveillance cameras have thermal sensors that automatically take pictures and use AI to analyze the images.

If the animal is positively identified as a bear, an automated email is sent to the city government hotline, and the local hunting association will then immediately go to the scene to set traps or chase the animal back into the woods.

Since March, the city has installed 23 surveillance cameras but so far has not detected any cases of bears approaching residential areas.

In fiscal 2023, Hanamaki City recorded 30 reports of bear sightings by residents, double the number from the same period last year. As a precaution, the city decided to install five additional surveillance cameras in May.

According to local police departments in mountainous areas, spring is the time when bears often appear and attack people after hibernation.

At this time, the bears are in a very bad condition because they are hungry and often tend to be aggressive, easily agitated and especially sensitive to humans. Therefore, those who enter the forest need to pay attention to taking necessary measures to ensure safety such as going in large groups; carrying a bell or radio; carrying a specialized spray to repel bears...