A black bear captured in Japan after several days of pursuit

Japanese authorities have announced the capture of a wild black bear that had caused concern for several days in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo. The animal, first sighted Saturday evening, prompted a large-scale search operation and led to the closure of schools in the city.

Faced with the risk to the population, local authorities suspended classes in the 94 municipal primary and secondary schools for two consecutive days. Residents were also asked to stay home and report any sightings of the animal.

On Tuesday, the bear was spotted again in a residential area. Law enforcement quickly cordoned off the area while police officers, city workers, and wildlife specialists joined the search. Several national media outlets covered the operation live using helicopters.

The capture of the animal brought an end to several days of tension in this city of nearly 500,000 inhabitants located in Tochigi Prefecture. However, authorities decided to keep schools closed on Wednesday following reports of a possible second bear in the area.

This case comes as Japan faces a sharp increase in bear-related incidents. According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, the country recorded a record 238 bear attack victims in fiscal year 2025, including 13 fatalities.

The increase in these encounters between humans and wild animals, including in urban areas, has led the Japanese government to set up a crisis unit tasked with limiting risks and strengthening prevention measures.

Experts attribute this increase in particular to the evolution of natural habitats and the search for food by bears near inhabited areas, a phenomenon that is increasingly worrying local authorities.