Key facts
- A black bear was captured in Utsunomiya, Japan, after multiple sightings.
- All 94 public schools in Utsunomiya were closed due to the bear.
- The bear was sighted multiple times in residential areas and near a park.
- Officials are investigating the possibility of a second bear in the area.
- Japan is experiencing a national increase in bear sightings and attacks.
Officials in Utsunomiya, Japan, captured a black bear on Tuesday after it had been sighted more than 20 times since Saturday, causing significant disruption. The bear, estimated to weigh around 100kg, was located about 2.5km south of the main railway station. Its appearances near homes, schools, and parks, and even swimming in a river and climbing fences, led to the closure of all 94 public primary and middle schools in the city. Authorities urged residents to keep their homes secured, noting the possibility of a second bear in the area.
This incident follows a separate event last week in Fukushima city, where a bear attacked and injured four people. Attempts to tranquilize that bear were unsuccessful, and it reportedly escaped a factory by unlocking a window, prompting speculation about its intelligence. A drone search is underway for the Fukushima bear.