Tokyo to resume bear hunting in April

The Tokyo government's decision marks a reversal of a policy in place since 2008, when bears were treated as nearly endangered. The shift comes after a sharp rise in sightings, from 70 in 2021 to 213 in 2025, and an expansion of areas where bears appear. The growing share of sightings near human habitats—now over 40%—underscores the urgency behind the plan.

Experts point to several factors driving bears into urban areas, including shortages of acorns and nuts, possibly linked to climate change, as well as changing hibernation patterns. Depopulation in rural areas has also reduced the "buffer zones" that once separated bears from people, while the ranks of licensed hunters have aged and dwindled.

The culling program will rely on experienced licensed hunters, targeting about 34 bears per year to keep the population from growing. Tokyo's bear population is estimated between 120 and 378, based on hair-trap surveys. While attacks in Tokyo have been rare—zero to two per year—the national context is more severe, with a record 13 deaths in fiscal 2025, highlighting why the issue demands attention.