• Japan has deployed military forces in Akita Prefecture to manage increased bear attacks.
• More than 100 bear attacks have been reported since April, resulting in at least 12 fatalities.
• Experts link the surge in attacks to climate change affecting food sources for bears.
• The operation includes setting traps and transporting local hunters, with no lethal action allowed.
• Japan’s aging population in rural areas contributes to the difficulty of managing the bear population.

Japan has mobilized its military to address a worrying increase in bear attacks in the mountainous regions of Akita Prefecture. Over the past several months, at least 12 people have been killed and more than 100 injured due to these encounters, correlating with heightened bear activity as they forage for food ahead of hibernation season. Reports indicate that bear appearances have escalated in urban areas, including schools and supermarkets, leading to widespread concern among residents, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.

The Japanese government attributes the surge in bear encounters to a combination of factors, including a growing bear population, climate change-induced food shortages, and a declining rural population less capable of managing wildlife. The estimated bear population has now exceeded 54,000, pushing them into human habitats as they search for sustenance. Government officials believe that the increasing proximity of bears to populated areas poses a significant public safety risk, according to NPR and Al Jazeera.

To combat this issue, approximately 100 military personnel have been dispatched to areas like Kazuno city, where they will set traps with food to capture the bears rather than kill them. This military assistance comes after an agreement with the local government, indicating that troops will aid in transporting licensed hunters and managing dead bears. The initiative aims to suppress the bear population while focusing on public safety, as highlighted by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fumitoshi Sato, who called addressing the bear problem "an urgent matter," according to NPR and Indiatimes.

Experts suggest that the increasingly aggravated bear population requires culling to maintain balance and prevent further intrusions into human territory, which are exacerbated by abandoned farmland and changes in food availability due to climate alterations. The phenomenon represents a broader challenge of coexisting with wildlife amid ecological changes, as Japan seeks to enhance both human safety and wildlife management, reflecting the complexities of modern environmental issues, according to NPR and Indiatimes.