Japan Culls 14,000 Bears Amid Rising Attack Deaths – Conservation Crisis?

Japan has culled more than 14,000 bears following the deadliest year on record for bear attacks, raising urgent concerns among wildlife conservationists about the survival of the country's vulnerable Asiatic black bear population. Government data shows authorities removed approximately 12,000 Asiatic black bears and 2,000 brown bears between April 2025 and January 2026 after human-bear encounters left 13 people dead and more than 230 injured last year.

The surge in conflict primarily stems from climate-driven food shortages and shifting rural demographics. Record summer heat disrupted the growth of beech nuts and acorns in northern prefectures such as Akita and Iwate, forcing hungry bears to forage near human settlements. Depopulation in rural hinterlands has also left farm plots and orchards abandoned, creating natural corridors that lure bears deeper into residential zones.

To manage the crisis, the Japanese government relaxed regulations regarding shooting bears in populated areas and installed extensive trapping networks across affected regions. Officials cite a declining and aging population of licensed hunters as a key reason for the aggressive state-sponsored intervention. Despite the mass culling effort, bear encounters remain high, with at least six fatalities and more than 35 attacks reported across nine prefectures since April. The government has set a target to cull an additional 8,800 bears this fiscal year.

Conservation groups strongly criticize the strategy, warning that excessive trapping could trigger localized extinctions. Yuko Muroya, chair of the Japan Bear and Forest Society, stated that a policy focused solely on reducing population numbers will not solve the underlying issue until the animals are driven to extinction. Internationally, the Asiatic black bear is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 60,000 estimated to remain globally.

Some communities are demonstrating alternative approaches to wildlife management. In the resort town of Karuizawa in Nagano prefecture, the Picchio Wildlife Research Centre uses non-lethal measures to handle human-bear conflicts. Teams utilize trained Karelian bear dogs to chase away bears, alongside tranquilization and relocation deep into forest habitats. Although bear sightings in Karuizawa rose by 20 percent this year, non-lethal intervention prevented an increase in physical injuries or property damage.

Expert opinions remain divided on the long-term ecological impact due to a lack of accurate population data. Biologist Dave Garshelis of the IUCN Bear Specialist Group noted that the rapid government response left few immediate alternatives, though the overall risk depends on precise population figures. Official estimates place Japan's Asiatic black bear population at 42,000, but researchers like Shinsuke Koike of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology note that accurate counts are difficult to maintain, even as some regional populations show annual growth rates above 10 percent without culling.

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