Bear Population Increases, Threatening the Lives of Japanese Citizens

In the 1980s, the bear population in Japan was at its lowest point. The population declined dramatically, and in some areas, bears were even threatened with extinction. For example, on the island of Kyushu, bears were last seen in 1987. 

Ironically, in the last six months, various media outlets have been reporting on the increasing number of Japanese citizens who have died as a result of bear attacks. This tragedy shows that the bear population in Japan is increasing sharply.

Amid this population increase, bears are expanding their range in search of food, including entering residential areas. In addition, the declining population in rural areas of Japan has led to more frequent interactions between bears and humans.

Bears are attracted to residential areas due to a lack of food. It is not uncommon for them to attack humans because they perceive them as a threat. The bears’ boldness in entering residential areas is also linked to the aging population in Japan. There are now fewer bear hunters. This situation has resulted in bears no longer fearing humans.

Life-threatening
In the past 12 months, the Japanese government has reported at least 219 bear attacks resulting in injuries and fatalities. In this situation, Japanese authorities say that bears have come to regard humans as prey.

With a population of around 44.000, black bears now pose a serious threat to human safety. Black bears can weigh up to 140 kg.

Dilemma
The Japanese government now faces a dilemma. It must prevent bears from entering residential areas and attacking humans, while ensuring that their population remains sustainable.

In an effort to control the bear population, the Japanese government has taken emergency measures by recruiting more hunters. In addition, the Japanese government is discussing changes to firearms legislation so that police can shoot bears that enter residential areas. 

Why Do Bears Attack Humans?
The sharp increase in bear attacks in Japan is inseparable from the shrinking of bear habitats, food scarcity, and climate change. Therefore, to reduce conflicts with humans while preserving bears, various approaches are needed. For example, the development of an early warning system for the presence of bears, habitat restoration, and community education.

It is undeniable that the expansion of residential areas and infrastructure development has disrupted bear migration routes and foraging areas. This habitat fragmentation needs to be understood in order to find solutions to the conflict between bears and humans.

In addition, climate change has caused temperatures to become warmer. These conditions have changed hibernation patterns and food availability, making bears more active and their behavior increasingly unpredictable.

Comprehensive Solutions are Needed
To resolve conflicts between bears and humans, it is necessary to establish an early warning system and monitor bear populations using the latest technology, such as GPS and drones. An effective early warning system will alert residents when bears are approaching residential areas so that they can be more vigilant.

In addition, it is also necessary to restore bear habitats and develop buffer zones so that bears have sufficient space to move around and find food, thereby preventing them from entering residential areas.

Another equally important measure is to educate and prepare the community. In this case, training on safety and what to do if a bear approaches a residential area will make residents better prepared.

The construction of physical facilities such as electric fences and the use of smells and noises to repel bears, which has traditionally been practiced by the Japanese people, is certainly part of the overall solution. 

Given that bears are animals included in conservation programs, non-lethal approaches such as relocating problematic bears to areas far from residential areas are part of the solution. However, relocation must be carefully planned because bears can return to their original habitat or, conversely, relocated bears can cause problems in their new habitat.

Collaboration between ecologists, local governments, and indigenous communities is essential to study bear ecology so that bears can be managed through an adaptive approach.

In situations like this, saving humans does not mean indiscriminately exterminating bears. Instead, it must be done through an approach of coexistence between bears and humans.

The existence of bears in Japan is vital to the forest ecosystem because of their role in seed dispersal and the preservation of biodiversity. Therefore, bear conservation must be able to protect human safety while maintaining their population. (IAAS/LAN)

By: Prof Ronny Rachman Noor

Professor of Genetics and Animal Breeding

Faculty of Animal Science, IPB