Japan’s Hokkaido issues urgent bear alert after fisherman decapitated
- The man’s remains were found by the banks of a lake in a remote part of the northern prefecture on Monday. A large bear had his waders in its mouth
- Observers say a decline in hunting and the lack of nature knowledge among city dwellers and day trippers are fuelling a surge in confrontations
Police on Monday discovered the head of Toshihiro Nishikawa, 54, on the banks of a lake in Shumarinai Prefectural Natural Park.
He had been dropped off alone near the lake by a guide shortly after 5am on Sunday. Returning to the same spot around four hours later, the guide reportedly spotted a large brown bear with fishing waders in its mouth. He attempted to contact Nishikawa by phone but got no reply.
The guide then contacted the town office and local police, which sent out search parties. Nishikawa’s head was discovered later in the afternoon and a hunter shot a bear found nearby.
Japan has seen a surge in bear sightings – and confrontations with people – in recent years, with the largely rural Hokkaido the most common place for humans to come face-to-face with the animals.