An “extremely intelligent” bear that injured four people in northern Japan remains at large as of Friday, after apparently opening a window while evading capture and turning on a water tap, authorities said.
Last year, a record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan, and there has been a rise in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.
After attacking four people at two Fukushima factories on Tuesday, the bear took refuge inside one of the buildings, local media reported.
He evaded capture despite the efforts of hunters and rescuers equipped with traps and anesthetic guns, and escaped on Wednesday night.
The bear remains at large as of Friday morning, a Fukushima official said. AFP.
Fukushima City Mayor Yuki Baba told reporters on Thursday that evidence suggested the animal “opened the window on its own” to escape, adding that claw marks had been found near the exit.
The bear is also believed to have “turned on the water tap” to drink, he added, describing it as “extremely intelligent.”
“With the cooperation of hunters, police and firefighters, I believe we took every possible measure within our power” to catch him, Baba said.
“It is extremely regrettable that we have not achieved our goal despite our best efforts,” he said.
In the last fiscal year through March, bear sightings nationwide surpassed 50,000, more than double the previous record set two years earlier, according to official data.
The animals were seen breaking into homes, wandering near schools and rampaging through supermarkets and hot springs resorts almost daily.
Bears are thriving thanks in part to an abundance of food (including acorns, deer and wild boar) under the influence of a warmer climate, experts say.
