Utsunomiya City closed all 94 of its municipal primary and secondary schools after a medium-sized Asiatic black bear was sighted multiple times over the weekend. The city, which has a population of approximately 500,000 residents, is situated about 100 kilometers north of Tokyo.
The bear, estimated to be about one meter in length, was first seen near a park in a residential area on Saturday. On Sunday, surveillance footage showed the bear in the city center during the early hours, running past two young men. Later that day, the animal was observed in residential neighborhoods.
The sightings continued into Monday morning. The bear was sighted in a factory district approximately two kilometers from the city center at 4 a.m. Its last reported location was approximately 0.5 kilometers from a middle school early Monday morning.
City officials advised residents to lock doors and windows, avoid approaching the bear, and seek shelter inside the nearest building. The city deployed vehicles equipped with public address systems to issue warnings to residents. Police and a local hunting association have resumed operations to locate the animal.
Japan has recorded approximately 50,000 bear sightings during the current calendar year, with most reports concentrated in the northeastern region. The country also recorded the highest number of bear-related human deaths and injuries in the twelve months ending in March. The estimated population of Asiatic black bears on Honshu island ranges from 12,000 to 42,000, and this population has reportedly tripled since 2012. A decline in hunting activity has contributed to this population growth.
Asiatic black bears, classified globally as a vulnerable species, can reach lengths of up to 1.5 meters and weigh up to 120 kilograms. Climatic conditions in Japan have reduced harvests of acorns and beechnuts, which are food sources for bears. Additionally, rural depopulation and an increase in abandoned farmland have reduced human activity in former agricultural zones. Some local governments in Japan are implementing surveillance cameras integrated with artificial intelligence to monitor bear movements. Japanese brown bears reside exclusively on Hokkaido island, with an estimated population of 12,000. Male brown bears on Hokkaido average 2 meters in length and can weigh up to 400 kilograms.