Japanese Authorities Capture One of Two Evasive Bears Near Tokyo, Fukushima

Japanese authorities have sedated and captured a black bear, days after it was spotted roaming around a city near Tokyo. A veterinarian fired a tranquiliser gun at the bear in Utsunomiya, home to half a million people, but missed the first shot. A second was fired about 15 minutes later, followed by a third. Another "extremely intelligent" bear filmed chasing people in Fukushima is still evading officials, as Japan deals with a rise in bear encounters. They rely heavily on seeds such as acorns and beechnuts, but with recent years of poor harvest, the bears are venturing into residential areas in search for food. Fewer residents means less noise and activity to deter bears, so they're more likely to wander and stay longer. Ecological change could also impact hibernation timing and extend periods when bears are active. On Tuesday, it took officials an hour and 40 minutes to capture the bear after identifying its location about 2.5km south of the main railway station, according to Utsunomiya East Police. The bear, believed to weigh around 100kg, had been spotted by residents more than 20 times since Saturday - near homes, schools, and parks. It was also seen swimming in a river, and climbing over fences across backyards. The unprecedented sighting forced the closure of all 94 public primary and middle schools. Officials said there were possibly two bears in the city and urged residents to keep their doors and windows locked. Last week, another bear attacked and injured four people in a residential district of Fukushima city. That bear is yet to be caught after attempts to tranquilise it were unsuccessful. It broke into an electronics factory, but surprised police who had surrounded the building after reportedly escaping by unlocking a window. The Fukushima mayor said officials also saw the bear drinking water from a tap, adding it may have turned the handle itself, and describing it as being "extremely intelligent." Earlier this year, the Japanese government established a ministerial task force and introduced emergency response measures to address the rise in bear attacks and reduce casualties. A village in Fukushima prefecture is weighing the use of an AI-powered image analysis system for trail cameras, while KDDI SmartDrone says its unmanned aircraft system can help municipalities track bears without training. The drones are equipped with thermal cameras , and can follow bears through dense vegetation until hunters or police arrive.