A sense of panic prevails in some areas of northern Japan due to bear attacks on residents, prompting some to attach bells to their backpacks to scare the animals away with sound, while signs warn people to be cautious. Since last April, these animal attacks have claimed 13 lives across Japan, a record number, with increasing reports of bears entering homes, roaming near schools, and storming major stores. Official data suggests the number of injured may also reach a record high, exceeding 100 from April to September. The number of fatalities from bear attacks in the first five months of this year has doubled the previous record set in 2023-2024. In recent years, Japan has recorded one of the highest rates of fatal bear attacks in the world. The Japanese government is making urgent efforts to address the growing problem of these attacks.
