Bear Vigil: Japan's Struggle with Aging Hunters and Rising Bear Encounters

Japan grapples with increasing bear encounters, as declining hunting interest and aging hunters create challenges. Urban expansion and bear population growth exacerbate the issue. Authorities propose relaxing gun laws and incentivizing hunters for sustainable solutions, while experts emphasize conservation and habitat demarcation for harmonious human-bear coexistence.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 03-12-2024 14:41 IST | Created: 03-12-2024 14:41 IST
Bear Vigil: Japan's Struggle with Aging Hunters and Rising Bear Encounters
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A gunshot echoed through a northern Japan meadow, marking another bear's downfall. The bear's presence near homes and cornfields prompted Sunagawa city officials and hunters to set a trap. Japan confronts escalating bear conflicts, where aging hunters stand as a crucial, yet dwindling, defense against this growing menace.

In a nation where bear attacks reached a record high, with six fatalities among 219 victims, over 9,000 bears were culled within a year. Expanding habitats and dwindling rural populations push bears closer to human settlements. Fragmented expertise and reliance on recreational hunters highlight an unsustainable situation.

Calls for new strategies to manage human-bear interactions intensify. Suggestions include relaxing shooting rules, better recruiting of hunters, and conservation-focused strategies. Japan's aging population, changing hunting interests, and environmental challenges underscore the complexity of balancing safety with ecological preservation.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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