A bear described by officials as “extremely intelligent” is evading capture in northern Japan after attacking four people, including an elderly woman and a soldier. The animal, believed to be a brown bear, has been spotted in residential areas of Sapporo, Hokkaido’s largest city, prompting school closures and a heavy police presence.
Sources confirm the bear first struck on Friday morning, when it charged a 70-year-old woman in a neighbourhood near the Maruyama district. She sustained serious injuries to her arms and legs. Hours later, it attacked a soldier at a nearby military base, leaving him with facial wounds. Two more victims were reported by evening, including a man in his 60s who was mauled while walking his dog.
Wildlife experts are baffled by the bear’s behaviour. “This is not normal,” said Dr. Hiroshi Tanaka, a professor of zoology at Hokkaido University. “It is avoiding traps, changing its patterns, and seems to understand our movements. We have never seen anything like this.”
Local authorities have deployed tranquiliser darts and set up cage traps, but the bear has outsmarted every effort. Police believe it is hiding in the dense forests that fringe the city. “It’s almost like it knows our plans,” a police spokesman told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are dealing with an extremely intelligent animal.”
The attacks have stirred memories of a deadly bear rampage in 2015 that killed four people in the same region. That bear was eventually shot after a week-long hunt. But officials are under pressure to capture this one alive, amid growing public fear and criticism over a slow response.
Schools remain closed in affected districts, and residents have been urged to stay indoors. Patrols continue through the night, but the bear remains at large. “We will not rest until it is secured,” said the police spokesman. “But this animal is testing every strategy we have.”
Environmentalists have warned against using lethal force, arguing the bear is likely sick or disoriented by habitat loss. “This is our fault,” said Akiko Yamamoto of the Hokkaido Wildlife Conservation Society. “We have pushed into their territory, and now they are pushing back.”
The bear is estimated to weigh around 200 kilograms and stands over two metres tall. Witnesses describe it as “fearless,” charging at vehicles and ignoring warning shots. A reward has been offered for information leading to its capture.
As night falls over Sapporo, the hunt intensifies. Locals are on edge, locking doors and checking windows. Some have taken up arms, defying police advice. “We have to protect our families,” one resident said. “The police can’t catch it. So we will.”
The situation remains fluid. This reporter will continue to follow the money – and the tracks.
