As bear encounters surge, Japan looks beyond culling

Japan is currently experiencing a surge in bear encounters as the country's estimated population of 58,000 bears increasingly enters human-populated areas. This rise in human-wildlife conflict has prompted national authorities to evaluate their current management strategies, moving beyond traditional culling methods to address the growing safety concerns.

The shift in policy reflects a broader effort to mitigate risks to the public while managing the bear population. Officials are now exploring alternative approaches to ensure long-term coexistence and public safety as interactions between bears and residents become more frequent.