Japan Deploys Troops for Bear Attacks

Japan has deployed its Self-Defense Forces to Japan — Ōita Prefecture to address a severe surge in bear attacks. Since April, over 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed across Japan, with Japan — Ōita Prefecture being particularly hard-hit, reporting more than 50 injuries and four deaths since May. Bears are increasingly encroaching into residential areas, schools, and commercial zones, driven by factors like climate change affecting food sources and Japan's aging, declining rural population, which has led to abandoned farmlands attracting bears and a shortage of experienced hunters. The Japan — Ministry of defence and Japan — Ōita Prefecture signed an agreement for troops to set traps, transport local hunters, and dispose of dead bears, though soldiers will not use firearms for culling. Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi and Akita Governor Kenta Suzuki emphasized the urgency of the situation and the strain on local resources. The Japanese government has also established a task force to develop a comprehensive response by mid-November, including population surveys and revisions to hunting rules.