Utsunomiya, Japan. Authorities continued searching on Tuesday for a black bear spotted more than a dozen times in the city, as all 94 municipal primary and middle schools remained closed for a second consecutive day. The adult bear, estimated to weigh about 100 kg, was last seen early Tuesday about 700 metres from a university campus, according to the city.
Search operation continues
The same bear is believed to have been seen on Saturday evening in the first recorded bear sighting in Utsunomiya, a city about 100 km north of Tokyo.
An Utsunomiya city official said a group including municipal and prefectural staff, the fire department and members of the hunters’ association was continuing to search for the animal. The official said authorities would decide whether to tranquilise, shoot or trap the bear for release depending on where it is found.
Bear incidents rising in Japan
Bear attacks, including in urban areas, have increased in Japan, prompting the government to set up a task force this year to reduce casualties. In fiscal 2025, the country reported a record 238 victims, including 13 deaths, according to the environment ministry.
Population and habitat pressures
Asiatic black bears are listed globally as a vulnerable species, but their numbers in Japan are estimated to have tripled since 2012, helped by a decline in hunting.
Experts say climate change has reduced harvests of bears’ natural food sources, including acorns and beechnuts, while the depopulation of rural areas and the spread of abandoned farmland have encouraged bears to seek food near human settlements.
