Japan captures roaming bear in Utsunomiya as urban attacks hit record levels

After three days of tension, Japanese authorities captured a 100‑kg brown bear that had been roaming the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo. The animal was sedated with tranquiliser darts in a residential garden and taken away in a cage. During the incident, all 94 elementary and middle schools in the city were closed and residents were advised to keep doors and windows shut.

The capture comes amid a surge in human‑bear encounters across Japan, with 238 people injured and 13 fatalities recorded in 2025, the highest level on record. A second bear, which injured four people in nearby Fukushima, remains at large despite a large‑scale search involving drones and a robotic "Super Monster Wolf" designed to scare wildlife.

In response, the Japanese government has formed a ministerial task force and is testing AI‑driven video surveillance and drone technology to detect and deter bears in urban areas.