Tragic Bear Attack in Hokkaido Claims Life of Young Climber

In a tragic turn of events, a man lost his life to a brown bear on August 14 while he was climbing a mountain located on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. The local government reported that the man, in his twenties, was hiking with a companion but was running alone shortly before the bear attacked, which occurred in a particularly narrow and poorly visible section of the trail on Mount Rausu.

The unfortunate incident was discussed at a meeting regarding bear management strategies held by the Hokkaido Research Organization in Sapporo. Following thorough investigations and interviews, it was revealed that the man's body was discovered the next day in a nearby forest. In response to the attack, hunters killed three bears in the vicinity, and DNA tests confirmed that a 140-centimeter long mother bear, weighing 117 kilograms, was responsible for the fatal encounter. The two cubs in the vicinity, each weighing around 17 kilograms and measuring 71 to 72 centimeters, were also accounted for, as the investigation continues into this tragic event. Although the victim did carry a bear bell, reports indicate that he did not have bear spray for defense during his hike.