Bear sightings force mass school closures as Japan grapples with rising problem VIDEO

A city on the outskirts of Tokyo had to close nearly 100 schools after a series of bear sightings this week, underscoring Japan's worsening struggle with a rapidly growing bear population and an increasing number of dangerous encounters with humans.

Utsunomiya, a city of roughly half a million residents north of Tokyo, recorded its first recent bear sighting over the weekend, according to the municipality's Wildlife Management Group, Japanese media reported.

The following day, another bear was spotted on the grounds of a junior high school, while security cameras later captured what appeared to be a bear roaming a downtown shopping district overnight.

Since then, additional sightings have been reported across several parts of the city, with police officers confirming the animal's presence on multiple occasions, with footage of those published by Reuters.

In response, local authorities closed all public elementary and junior high schools from the start of the week. 

Police officers and members of the local hunting association spent June 9 searching the area before successfully capturing a bear later that evening. Footage from the operation showed hunters tranquilizing the animal with a dart before transporting it away by truck.

While the majority of schools have resumed classes on June 11 following the capture, officials have urged residents to continue keep doors and windows locked, avoid leaving rubbish outside overnight and remain vigilant. This warning underscores the level of alertness by authorities in response to the overall worrisome situation of bear attacks across Japan.

Japan's growing bear problem

The latest incident is part of a broader trend that has seen bear encounters rise sharply across Japan.

Last autumn, fatal bear attacks reached record levels, prompting authorities to deploy military personnel to some of the worst-affected areas, while several foreign governments updated travel advisories warning visitors about the increased risk.

Experts attribute the surge to a combination of factors. Japan's bear population has expanded as hunting has declined, while climate-driven poor harvests have reduced natural food supplies, pushing bears closer to towns and cities. At the same time, depopulation in many rural communities has created less human activity, making it easier for wildlife to venture into inhabited areas.

Although reported attacks declined during the winter hibernation period, warmer weather has brought bears back into populated areas.

Between April and June 2 alone, three people were killed and at least 20 others were injured in bear attacks across nine prefectures. 

Just last week, a bear injured four workers at a steel factory in Fukushima Prefecture, highlighting the growing challenge facing authorities as human-wildlife encounters become increasingly common.

By Nazrin Sadigova