Sapporo police on alert after bear-like animal sighting

A bear-like animal was reported in a residential area of Kiyota Ward, Sapporo, on the night of August 8. A female driver spotted a large, black, rounded animal measuring approximately one meter in length on the roadway at around 7:50 PM.

Following the sighting, police responded to the scene but were unable to find any physical traces of the animal. Because the witness turned a corner shortly after the encounter, the direction in which the animal traveled remains unknown. Local police have increased patrols in the area, which is characterized by residential housing and proximity to a river.