Police can use rifles to shoot bears after strict gun laws were revised to help authorities battle a spate of fatal attacks that also prompted the US embassy in Tokyo to issue a “wildlife alert”.
A record 13 people have been killed by the animals across the country since April, with incidents reported on an almost daily basis of bears entering homes, roaming near schools and rampaging in supermarkets.
The government is scrambling to deal with the surge in maulings, which scientists say is being driven by a fast-growing bear population combined with this year’s bad acorn harvest and a falling human population.
The northern regions of Akita and Iwate, where most of the attacks have taken place, held a ceremony yesterday for riot police, who will now be allowed to use rifles to shoot bears.
Local officials confirmed that changes to gun rules had come into effect after being announced last week.
The revision came as media reports said handguns issued to regular police are of limited use because the weapons are not powerful enough to kill bears.
The US embassy in Tokyo posted on Wednesday a “wildlife alert” on its website warning people to avoid walking alone in areas where bears had been sighted or stay away altogether.
Japan also began deploying soldiers last week in the hard-hit Akita region, although the troops will not carry firearms or hunt the bears. — AFP
