Japan to review bear management and hiking rules after fatal attack in Hokkaido

Following a fatal brown bear attack on a male hiker on Mount Rausu in Hokkaido's Shiretoko Natural World Heritage area on Aug. 14, a local bear management council announced Sept. 11 that it will review the incident and compile new preventive measures by the end of this fiscal year.

The steps may include stricter wilderness entry management and responses to bears habituated to humans.

The Shiretoko brown bear countermeasures liaison council, which includes the Ministry of the Environment, Forestry Agency, Hokkaido Prefectural Government, the towns of Shari, Rausu and Shibetu, as well as the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, held a press conference in Shari, Hokkaido. The council, which is responsible for the Shiretoko Peninsula brown bear management plan, will also seek advice from a working group of the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site Scientific Council as it develops new countermeasures.

In the days leading up to the fatal incident, there were multiple sightings of the bear responsible for the attack along the trail. At the press conference, officials reported that, based on interviews with hikers on Aug. 13, the day before the attack, there was no information indicating imminent danger, so the authorities issued a strong warning rather than restricting trail access. It was also newly reported that the site of the attack is an area where bears frequently appear in search of ants, a food source. Meanwhile, it was determined that a suspected case of bear feeding on July 29 in Shari's Iwaobetsu area was likely unrelated to the animal involved in the fatal attack.

Hokkaido officials said the current bear warning, in place through Sept. 13, will be lifted if no further problems arise. However, the closure of the hiking trail, implemented after the attack, is expected to remain in effect until the investigation is complete, and an Environment Ministry official stated, "It will be difficult to reopen the trail this season."

The council will examine the causes of the incident, including direct factors, hiker awareness, information sharing and trail management. It will conduct repeated assessments on related measures to prevent a recurrence, including strengthening trail entry management, stricter rules for hikers, and updating management plans and responses to problem bears.

Source : https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250912/p2a/00m/0na/020000c

Comprehension

When and where did the fatal brown bear attack occur?
What organization announced new preventive measures after the incident?
Which government agencies and towns are part of the Shiretoko brown bear countermeasures liaison council?
What food source attracts bears to the area where the attack happened?
Why did authorities only issue a warning on Aug. 13 instead of closing the trail?
What action was taken immediately after the fatal incident?
Until when is the current bear warning in place?
What are some of the measures being considered to prevent future attacks?

Discussion

Do you think hiking trails in areas with many wild animals should always have strict entry rules? Why or why not?
How can hikers prepare themselves better when walking in areas where bears live?
Do you believe warnings are enough, or should trails be closed if bears are sighted?
How can local communities balance tourism and safety in natural heritage areas?
What role should government officials play in protecting both humans and wildlife?
Have you ever experienced being in a dangerous or wild animal area? What happened?
Do you think people should avoid hiking in places where bears are common, or should they be allowed with strict rules?
Why do you think some bears become “habituated” (used to) humans?
Should bears that attack humans be captured or killed, or should they be left alone?
How important is it to protect

Vocabulary

Fatal – causing death.
Preventive – meant to stop something bad from happening.
Habituated – used to something; no longer afraid of it.
Countermeasures – actions taken to prevent or reduce danger.
Trail – a path, especially in the forest or mountains.
Warning – a notice about possible danger.
Incident – an event, especially one that is unusual or bad.
Recurrence – when something bad happens again.