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Japan creates emergency plan to stop bear attacks

Bear Attacks - Level 4

Japan has created an emergency plan to address record bear attacks. Bears have killed 13 people and injured more than 100 since April. The death toll is the highest since records began. The plan is to cut the numbers of deaths, injuries, and bear encounters. Authorities will try to reduce bear populations. Another feature is the setting of bear-capture targets. Authorities will also try to separate bear habitats from residential areas.

There are two species of bear in Japan. Their numbers have surged in the past decade. The black bear population has tripled from 15,000 to 44,000. The larger and more dangerous brown bears have doubled in number. One reason why bear populations are increasing is a shortage of beech nuts. Another reason is a declining number of hunters. Finally, depopulation in rural areas means bears are wandering into towns and villages.

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Bear Attacks - Level 5

Japan has created emergency measures to address record bear attacks. The government said bears have killed 13 people and injured more than 100 since April. The death toll is the highest since records began. Wildlife experts have created a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of deaths, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been seen. Another feature is region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up buffer zones to separate bear habitats from human residential areas.

There are two species of bear in Japan. Their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the black bear population has tripled since 2012 — rising from 15,000 to 44,000. The larger and more dangerous brown bears, native to Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons why bear populations are increasing. One is a shortage of beech nuts. Another reason is a declining number of hunters, who are largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, depopulation in rural areas means bears are wandering into towns and villages.

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Bear Attacks - Level 6

Japan's government has created emergency measures to address record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The death toll is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas.

There are two species of bear in Japan and their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly tripled since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is the shortage of beech nuts, which scientists attribute to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venturing into towns and villages.

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