Japanese authorities are scrambling to track a bear that has injured four people in a series of attacks in the mountainous region of Nagano Prefecture. Sources confirm the animal, believed to be a male Asiatic black bear, struck early Tuesday morning in a residential area near the town of Matsumoto, leaving two hikers and two farmers with non-fatal injuries. Local police have set up roadblocks and deployed thermal drones, but the bear has evaded capture.
Now, a team of British zoologists from the University of Oxford has been dispatched to assist, bringing specialised tracking equipment and tranquiliser expertise. This is a rare and dangerous situation," says Dr.
Sarah Timms, the lead zoologist en route to Japan. Asiatic black bears are elusive, and human conflicts are escalating due to habitat loss. Our goal is to minimise further harm while ensuring the bear's eventual relocation."
The attacks come amid a surge in bear sightings across Japan, with officials reporting a 30% increase in encounters this year alone. Uncovered documents show that local forestry funds have been slashed, limiting preventive measures. The British team's deployment, funded by a private conservation trust, underscores the growing international concern.
As night falls, the hunt continues. Every minute counts," a local police spokesperson tells us.
We cannot afford another incident." The zoologists are expected to arrive within 24 hours, but the bear remains at large.
