Japan to Compile Wild Bear Countermeasures by Mid-Nov.

Tokyo, Oct. 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara on Thursday instructed relevant ministries and agencies to draw up an urgent package of measures against wild bears by mid-November amid a series of attacks on people across the country. At the first meeting of a ministerial council held at the prime minister’s office, Kihara also called for prompt and appropriate action to cull bears entering residential areas. The number of fatalities from bear attacks has reached a record high of 12 so far this fiscal year. “Damage is diversifying and spreading over wider areas, posing a serious threat to public safety,” said Kihara, who chairs the council. At the meeting, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi reported that training involving the transport of box traps was conducted at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Akita camp in northeastern Japan on Thursday. At a press conference, Kihara said that the government has asked police to cull wild bears using rifles. Meanwhile, Kazuya Shinba, secretary-general of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, asked Kihara to provide support for securing and developing human resources including so-called government hunters, or local government employees holding hunting licenses. According to the DPFP, Kihara replied, “The central government will give support for local governments to continuously foster human resources such as government hunters.” The party also asked the government to provide financial aid as well as offer logistical assistance from the SDF. It further called on the government to quickly compile guidelines for emergency hunting, which would allow municipalities to authorize hunters to fire their rifles in urban areas to kill animals that pose a risk to people. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]