A bear exhibiting what wildlife officials describe as “extremely intelligent” behaviour remains at large in the Japanese city of Toyama after a series of attacks that left four people injured. The animal, believed to be a male Asian black bear, has outsmarted eight traps and evaded multiple search teams over the past week, prompting consultations with British wildlife specialists.
The bear first attracted attention on June 9 when it entered a residential area near the centre of Toyama, a city of 415,000 on the Sea of Japan coast. It charged a group of pedestrians, injuring a man and a woman in their 70s before disappearing into a wooded hillside. Two more attacks followed in the subsequent days: a woman in her 50s was mauled while walking her dog, and a 70-year-old man was bitten on the leg after surprising the animal in his garden.
“This bear is exhibiting problem-solving skills we rarely see,” said Dr. Hiroshi Tanaka, a wildlife biologist with the Toyama Prefectural Government. “It has learned to avoid cage traps, even those baited with its favourite foods like honey and salmon. It appears to be studying human behaviour, moving only when patrols are called away to other incidents.”
Local authorities have deployed drone teams, thermal imaging cameras, and a 20-person police task force. Despite these efforts, the bear has slipped through every cordon. Officials have now contacted the UK’s Forestry Commission and experts at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology for advice on capturing “highly adaptable” bears.
Dr. Sarah Green, a bear specialist at Cambridge, confirmed she is advising Japanese counterparts. “Asian black bears are naturally cautious and intelligent, but this individual seems to have learned from direct encounters with traps and people,” she said. “We are reviewing footage to identify behavioural patterns and suggest alternative capture methods, possibly using modified traps with hidden triggers.”
The bear is one of an estimated 15,000 Asian black bears living in Japan, a species known for their distinct white chest patch and shy temperament. Attacks on humans are rare, but recent years have seen a rise in bear encounters as their habitats shrink due to deforestation and suburban expansion. In 2023 alone, Japan recorded 173 bear attacks, the highest number in over a decade.
Residents of Toyama have been advised to stay indoors after dusk, secure rubbish bins, and avoid leaving pet food outside. Schools in the affected district have closed, and a local radio station is broadcasting hourly updates. The bear was last spotted near the Jinzu River, just three kilometres from the city centre.
“This is not a case of a rabid animal; it is a very smart animal learning to navigate human-dominated landscapes,” Dr. Tanaka added. “We are in a race to capture it before someone is killed or it becomes habituated to humans.”
The prefectural government has authorised the use of tranquilliser darts from helicopters if the bear is spotted in a safe location. However, officials are hesitant to use lethal force, given the animal’s rarity and the public outcry over a similar incident in 2021 when a mother bear with cubs was shot after killing two people.
The bear’s intelligence has become a topic of national debate, with some commentators arguing that the animal’s behaviour reflects an evolutionary response to expanding human settlements. Others see it as a stark example of urban wildlife conflict that will only intensify as climate change pushes species into human territory.
For now, the standoff continues. Four people remain hospitalised, two with serious injuries. The bear, meanwhile, continues to evade its pursuers, adjusting its routes and feeding times to avoid detection. As Dr. Green noted, “We are dealing with an animal that is learning in real time. That is both fascinating and deeply concerning.”
