Wolf-shaped wildlife deterrent robots are seeing explosive demand in Japan, where bear attacks on humans have surged in recent months.
Ota Seiki, a machine parts company based in Naie, Hokkaido, said orders for its wolf-shaped robot "Monster Wolf" have tripled this year compared with previous years, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media on Thursday.
The device activates immediately when its infrared sensors detect approaching wildlife such as bears, wild boars or deer. The wolf's head moves from side to side while its red eyes glow and powerful LED lights flash. At the same time, the robot randomly plays about 50 sound types, including construction site-level noise, animal cries that wildlife dislike, and human voices.
The volume is comparable to a car horn and can be heard up to 2 kilometers away. The robot runs on solar power, requiring no separate electricity supply, and installation costs about 400,000 yen (3.8 million won).
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Monster Wolf was originally developed starting in 2016 to reduce crop damage caused by deer. More than 380 units have been shipped so far, and demand has surged recently as bears have descended into residential areas and urban outskirts.
Closed-circuit TV footage has repeatedly captured bears and wild boars fleeing in panic at the sounds emitted by the robot. As the effectiveness has been proven, installation inquiries have been pouring in not only from farms but also from construction sites, golf courses and resorts. Even after placing an order, customers must wait two to three months for actual installation.
"In the past, farmers were our main customers, but now orders come in from various facilities," Ota Seiki President Yuji Ota said. "This means bears are penetrating deep into areas where people live."
Japan: 50,000 Sightings and 13 Deaths Last Year
The Japanese government is strengthening measures not only to deploy deterrent equipment but also to reduce the bear population itself. According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, bear sightings nationwide totaled 50,776 last year, the highest since related statistics began to be compiled in 2009.
In the same year, human casualties caused by bears reached a record high of 238, with 13 of them losing their lives. A total of 14,720 bears were captured, and more than 99%, or 14,601, were shot dead.
In response, the Japanese government finalized a "Bear Damage Countermeasures Roadmap" last month and decided to push forward a "government hunter" system that hires licensed hunters as public officials. It plans to increase the current capture workforce of about 700 to 2,500 by 2030 and is also reviewing the use of retired Japan Self-Defense Forces and police personnel.
Shinsuke Koike, a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, said, "This year, bears have been spotted near urban areas starting in February, earlier than in previous years." He added, "It is highly likely that young bears that lost their mothers came down to residential areas in search of food."
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