Japan eases hunting laws amid record bear attacks
This year in Japan, there have been over 200 encounters with bears, resulting in the deaths of six people. According to "Interia," in response to the growing number of such incidents, the government is implementing changes to the regulations concerning the protection of wild fauna.
A record-breaking year in Japan in terms of bear-related incidents, with over 200 attacks reported, has prompted authorities to consider changes in the law. The new regulations will allow hunters to shoot bears near inhabited areas, even if they do not directly threaten people.
The new regulations aim to give hunters more freedom to protect people from bears, which increasingly venture into inhabited areas. The changes are intended to push predators out of areas inhabited by people into forest reserves.
Authorities argue that bears are increasingly approaching human settlements due to the leftover food and unsecured rubbish left by people. As reported by "Interia," the new regulations are meant to help protect residents from potential threats.
They will be able to shoot bears without a permit
Currently, Japanese law requires police permission to shoot bears, but it is to be modified to respond more quickly in dangerous situations. The planned changes will allow hunters to act more freely, which is intended to increase citizens' safety. Although decisions about shooting are met with mixed reactions, the need for protection against threats seems to prevail.
These changes could be particularly significant on the island of Hokkaido, where approximately 2,000 bears live. Bears on Hokkaido are more numerous than in many other regions, creating additional challenges for local communities.
New regulations aim to increase residents' safety and reduce the number of incidents. Various approaches, such as robot wolves or artificial intelligence-based systems, are being tested to minimise potential attacks.
