Sources confirm that a bear described by local authorities as ‘extremely intelligent’ is on the run in northern Japan after a rampage that left four people injured. The attack, which took place in the woods near the city of Sapporo on Hokkaido island, has sparked a frantic search involving police, hunters and wildlife officials. The bear, a large male believed to weigh over 300 kilograms, reportedly evaded traps and tranquiliser darts with what one official called ‘almost human cunning’.
The four victims, all in their 60s and 70s, were part of a foraging group collecting bamboo shoots. They suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including deep claw wounds and broken bones. The bear first attacked a man gathering shoots near a stream, then turned on three others who came to help.
Witnesses described the animal as ‘deliberate’ and ‘calculating’, moving with a purpose that seemed to outstrip ordinary animal instinct. ‘This is not a normal bear,’ a local police officer told reporters. ‘It avoids our patrols, it knows the terrain, and it seems to understand our methods.
We are dealing with something exceptional.’ The search has been complicated by dense forest and fog, with the bear reportedly doubling back on its own tracks. Officials have warned residents within a 10-kilometre radius to stay indoors.
Schools in the area have been closed. Wildlife experts are baffled. ‘Bears are intelligent, but this level of behaviour is unprecedented,’ said Dr.
Hiroshi Tanaka, a zoologist at Hokkaido University. ‘It appears to be learning from its encounters with humans, which is deeply troubling.’ The bear, which has been nicknamed ‘Ninja’ by local media, is believed to be the same animal that has been sighted near farms over the past month, raiding livestock and breaking into storage sheds.
Environmental officials had previously dismissed reports of a ‘super-intelligent’ bear as folklore. Now they are not so sure. ‘This animal is a problem solver,’ said a senior wildlife officer.
‘It has taken our best efforts and made fools of us. We are considering new tactics, but we will not rest until it is captured or killed.’ The attack has reignited debate over Japan’s management of its growing bear population, which has led to increased human-wildlife conflict.
As night falls over Hokkaido, the search continues. But with a bear that seems to think ahead, the odds may be in its favour.
