Japan's Bear Crisis: Evolving Laws and Technology Amidst Rising Encounters

Japan is grappling with a significant increase in bear-related incidents, prompting a critical re-evaluation of its wildlife management strategies. Between April and July 2025, the nation recorded 55 bear attacks and numerous sightings, with bears increasingly venturing into urban areas. Experts attribute this trend to climate change impacting natural food sources like acorns and beech nuts, alongside rural depopulation that leads to more abandoned farmland, creating accessible habitats for wildlife.

In response, Japan enacted a revised Wildlife Protection, Control and Hunting Management Act, effective September 1, 2025. This legislation empowers local mayors to authorize "emergency shootings" of bears and other dangerous animals in populated areas for public safety, a measure that previously required delayed police approval. The Environment Ministry is also increasing subsidies for preventative measures, such as installing deterrents and enhancing personnel training for bear encounter responses.

The bear population in Japan has seen a substantial increase, with estimates suggesting a threefold rise since 2012. The Asiatic black bear population is estimated at 44,000, while the Ussuri brown bear population in Hokkaido numbers just under 12,000. This proliferation, combined with environmental shifts, has created a more volatile human-wildlife dynamic, with climate change significantly disrupting natural food cycles and forcing bears closer to human settlements.

To supplement legislative and on-the-ground efforts, Japan is adopting technological innovations. AI-powered surveillance systems utilizing facial recognition are being trialed to identify individual bears for targeted monitoring and movement prediction. Additionally, robotic deterrents, such as "Monster Wolves" with flashing lights and sounds, are being deployed where human and bear habitats intersect. These measures represent a forward-thinking approach to mitigate conflict through immediate response capabilities and proactive technological interventions, balancing public safety with wildlife coexistence in a changing climate.