Japan deploys 800+ cameras to curb surge in deadly bear attacks

Since 1 April, at least five people have been killed by bears in Japan’s northern Tochoku region, following a record 13 deaths the previous year. Authorities have responded by installing more than 800 surveillance cameras in the mountains of northern Japan to track bear populations and develop better management plans. The camera program will initially focus on six key bear groups and may expand nationwide over the next four years.

In a separate incident, a man in Nagoya accidentally sprayed bear‑repellent aerosol inside a postal facility, causing eight people to feel ill and five to be hospitalized. No serious injuries were reported. The event highlights growing concerns about bear encounters in urban and industrial areas as bear numbers rise and they increasingly appear in cities, parks and near schools.