Japan recorded the highest number of bear attack casualties in the country's history this year.
The Ministry of the Environment said Friday that bear attacks from April to November resulted in 13 deaths and 217 injuries, totaling 230 casualties. The figure surpasses the previous annual record of 219 casualties set in 2023. The death toll was more than double that of 2023, which saw six fatalities.
The number of bears captured during this period also reached a record high of 9,867, exceeding the 9,276 captured in 2023.
By region, Akita Prefecture reported the most casualties with 66, followed by Iwate Prefecture with 37, Fukushima Prefecture with 24, and Niigata Prefecture with 17.
Bear sighting reports, excluding Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Okinawa regions, also surged to 36,814 cases, up from 24,348 in 2023.
"The bear population has increased, and more bears may have gained experience foraging in residential areas," the ministry said, warning that sightings are likely to continue this month.
According to foreign media reports, the ministry plans to allocate 3.4 billion yen (approximately $23 million) for bear countermeasures in this year's supplementary budget.
