A bear is believed to have assaulted and possibly consumed a local fisherman, as police found a human head near the scene and observed boots dangling from the creature’s jaw.
This grim revelation unfolded at Lake Shumarinai on Hokkaido Island, in Japan, a locale known for its picturesque tranquility.
On May 15, Toshihiro Nishikawa, a 54-year-old fishing enthusiast, went to a secluded angling spot near the lake in Horokanai. However, when he failed to make his scheduled return, his fellow anglers grew concerned and contacted local authorities, setting off a search operation for the missing man.
Later that day, the boatman who had previously ferried Nishikawa to his fishing location spotted a bear exhibiting unusual behavior, as it had what appeared to be fishing boots in its jaws. This alarming sighting spurred the boatman to attempt to contact Nishikawa, but all attempts proved unsuccessful. Consequently, a hunt was organized, aiming to locate and neutralize the potentially hazardous beast. The bear was shot later that evening.
In the course of the search, a human head was located close to Nishikawa’s last reported position. However, authorities have yet to establish if the recovered remains are indeed Nishikawa’s.
Following the suspected bear attack, the Horokanai municipal office has disseminated an urgent advisory, imploring the local population to exercise caution when engaging in farming or forestry activities or venturing into mountainous territories frequented by bears.
People are counseled to keep their composure and stand their ground if they come across a bear. Flight or food offerings are adamantly discouraged. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is believed to host between 6,500 and 10,000 Ussuri brown bears, creatures capable of attaining heights of 7 feet 6 inches and tipping the scales at more than 550 lbs.
Instances of human-bear encounters, often leading to conflict, are not uncommon, particularly in regions where human habitation brushes up against the untamed wilderness. In 2021 alone, Hokkaido officials logged no less than 14 bear incidents involving injuries or fatalities.
Despite being dimensionally smaller than their North American grizzly bear relatives, the Ussuri brown bear, also identified as the Russian grizzly bear, presents an equivalent danger.