• Utsunomiya closes all 94 schools due to a bear roaming the streets.
• More than 10 bear sightings reported in three days, raising public safety concerns.
• Bear attacks in Japan have increased, prompting government response.

The Japanese city of Utsunomiya has suspended all 94 public primary and junior high schools following numerous reports of a bear sighting, marking a significant public safety concern. This decision was made after over ten sightings were reported since Saturday, including locations like a shopping arcade and a residential neighborhood, prompting searches led by dozens of hunters and local officials, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

The bear, described as approximately one meter long, was first spotted on Saturday morning near the city center and then reported in various locations throughout the weekend. A local official stated, “We have vehicles out to areas where a bear was seen to make people aware and to urge people to stay indoors or in vehicles,” reflecting the urgency of the situation, according to Reuters.

This alarming trend coincides with a rising number of bear encounters across Japan, which saw a record 50,000 bear sightings reported over the last year, and a total of 13 fatalities due to bear attacks in 2022. Experts attribute this surge partly to climate change and increased urban encroachment into bear habitats, raising concerns about human-wildlife interactions in densely populated areas, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.