TOKYO(The COW News Digital) The Japanese government has announced plans to allocate special funds for licensed hunters as part of an emergency program to combat a sharp rise in wild bear attacks across the country.
According to international media reports, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment said it will soon launch a coordinated program engaging licensed hunters and wildlife experts to address the growing threat posed by bears, which have been increasingly encroaching on human settlements.
Officials said the number of bear-related incidents in 2025 has reached record highs, with 13 deaths and more than 100 injuries reported so far this year. The unprecedented surge has triggered alarm across northern and central Japan, where rural and suburban communities have seen frequent bear sightings.
In recent months, several shocking incidents have made global headlines — including bears breaking through school gates, attacking tourists at bus stops, and wandering inside supermarkets. Experts believe climate change and food scarcity in mountain habitats have driven the animals closer to populated areas in search of food.
On Thursday, Japan held its first high-level inter-ministerial meeting on the issue, attended by officials from multiple ministries and agencies. The meeting focused on developing a unified response strategy combining wildlife management, community safety measures, and rapid response units in affected regions.
Minister of the Environment Hirotaka Ishihara said the government will utilize additional budgetary resources to recruit more hunters and professionals for controlled bear removal operations in high-risk zones.
“We are deeply concerned about the growing number of attacks. The government will use extra budget funds to increase the number of authorized hunters and strengthen local response capacity,” Ishihara stated.
Environmental authorities are also urging citizens to avoid leaving food waste outdoors and to report bear sightings immediately to local offices. In some areas, drones and camera traps are being deployed to track bear movements and prevent surprise encounters.
Wildlife experts warn that Japan’s aging rural population and declining hunter numbers have made it harder to control bear populations effectively. The new government initiative aims to restore balance between human safety and wildlife conservation, preventing further casualties while maintaining ecological harmony.
