Latest news with #ShiretokoPeninsula
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Japan Times
Hiker goes missing after brown bear attack in Hokkaido
A man in his 20s went missing on Thursday after he was attacked by a bear while hiking with a friend on a mountain in eastern Hokkaido. The man's friend, also in his 20s, called the police soon after the attack, saying the bear dragged the victim away while they were climbing down Mount Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula. He told the police that his friend had been walking about 200 meters ahead of him when he was attacked. 'He was trying to fend off the bear but was dragged into the forest,' NHK quoted the man as saying. Hokkaido police and rescuers found the missing man's wallet, wristwatch, hat and a shirt with bloodstains, Hokkaido Shimbun reported Friday. Authorities shut down the trail for the 1,661-meter mountain, which straddles the towns of Rausu and Shari, after the attack. There was another case on Tuesday in which a hiker was followed by a bear. The town of Shari had been calling on hikers to be on alert since July, following several witness reports of brown bears unintimidated by humans. The Hokkaido Prefectural Government issued a warning for brown bears around Mount Rausu, advising hikers to slowly and quietly step away backward if they encounter the animal. 'Don't throw rocks or shout and run away since it may provoke the bear,' it says on its website. If they find bear footprints or droppings, they should turn back, it said. Mount Rausu, a part of the Shiretoko Peninsula that was granted World Heritage status in 2005, supports a high population density of brown bears. According to the Environment Ministry, a total of 55 people were attacked by bears across the country between April and July this year, out of which three have died. Information from Jiji added
NHK
4 days ago
- NHK
Climber says friend attacked by brown bear on Mt. Rausu in Hokkaido
Police in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido say they received a report on Thursday that a climber had been attacked by a bear on Mount Rausu. A man called the police at around 11:10 a.m., saying a bear had attacked his friend and dragged him away. The caller has reportedly since been rescued. The police say the condition of his friend remains unknown. Both climbers are in their 20s. The 1,661-meter mountain is on the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido, and is a known habitat for brown bears. They say they have been searching from the air for the climber who was attacked. According to the police, at least 40 people had submitted climbing plans for Mount Rausu that day. They say that by about 3 p.m., helicopters had airlifted about 10 climbers who had taken shelter at an observation deck or other locations on the mountain. Mount Rausu straddles the towns of Rausu and Shari. It is part of Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The mountain attracts many climbers during the summer season. Local forestry authorities say climbing routes to the mountain were closed after the report of the attack. The Shiretoko Nature Foundation says there have been a series of sightings of bears approaching climbers since July. On Tuesday, a climber reportedly came across a bear at close range and was followed for several minutes even after spraying it with bear repellent. The foundation strongly recommends carrying bear repellent spray when entering the mountains. It says that if climbers encounter a bear, they should avoid provoking it and slowly back away to maintain distance.
