Military Intervention in Northern Japan as Bear Attacks Reach Crisis Levels
The Japanese government has taken the unprecedented step of deploying military forces to combat a surge in bear attacks that has claimed a record number of lives across the country. The Self-Defense Forces have been dispatched to the northern prefectures of Akita and Iwate, where bear encounters have reached alarming levels.
Record-Breaking Casualties and Growing Threat
According to Japan's Ministry of Environment, the country has witnessed more than 100 bear attacks since April 2025, resulting in twelve fatalities - the highest number ever recorded. Two-thirds of these deaths occurred in Akita prefecture and neighboring Iwate, where the bear population has exploded in recent years.
'I always thought bears would run away when they heard noise, but now they actually come toward you. They are truly terrifying animals,' said the head of Kazuno's bear control service, expressing relief at the military's arrival.
Operation Details and Military Strategy
The military operation began in Kazuno, a mountain town of 30,000 residents, where bear sightings have increased dramatically. Soldiers are setting up steel traps throughout the region to capture the animals. Once trapped, the bears are euthanized by hired hunters as part of population control measures.
The operation will expand to the cities of Odate and Kitaakita and is scheduled to continue through the end of November 2025. This marks a significant escalation in Japan's approach to wildlife management, with the military typically reserved for national defense rather than animal control.
Root Causes of the Crisis
Experts point to multiple factors driving the increase in bear-human conflicts. 'The growing number of bear attacks is due to an increase in the bear population combined with food shortages in the forests,' explained Japan correspondent Anoma van der Veere. 'But aging and rural depopulation also underlie the problem.'
According to Wikipedia, Japan's black bear population has grown significantly, with recent estimates suggesting 44,000 individuals compared to just 15,000 in 2012. Meanwhile, abandoned farmland and orchards have created ideal conditions for bears to approach human settlements.
Economic and Social Impacts
The crisis extends beyond public safety concerns. Akita prefecture, known for its natural beauty and traditional Japanese culture, is experiencing economic fallout from the bear attacks. Recent surveys indicate that more than half of expected domestic tourists are avoiding the region, dealing a blow to local economies already struggling with population decline.
This isn't the first time Japan has used military forces for wildlife management. Approximately ten years ago, the Self-Defense Forces assisted with wild deer hunting using aerial surveillance, and in the 1960s, they shot sea lions to protect fisheries.
The current operation represents a dramatic response to what authorities describe as an unprecedented wildlife crisis, highlighting the complex challenges of human-wildlife coexistence in Japan's changing rural landscape.