Tokyo: Japan continues to face a problem of bears attacking citizens and tourists, and authorities are trying various methods to prevent it. The latest is the use of drones to help repel bears.

According to Thai News Agency, the bear-deterrent drone, officially called a “hunting drone,” was developed by Aero Japan. It’s a three-foot-wide drone with two large eyes on top, a large speaker on the underside of the drone that plays the sounds of dogs barking, and firecrackers on the wings to deter bears. It was recently tested in an orchard in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, to deter bears from stealing fruit.

The deployment of drones is part of Japan’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its people and tourists following an increase in bear attacks this year, especially in the northern prefectures. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK reported that since April, there have been 220 bear attacks nationwide, with 13 people killed, including seven in October, when bears are actively hunting for food befo
re their months-long hibernation. Historically, bear attacks on people have mostly occurred in remote towns that foreign tourists rarely visit. However, a recent incident involved a bear cub attacking a Spanish tourist in the ancient village of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Signs warning of bear attacks have appeared throughout the tourist area, with recommendations to walk in groups, avoid certain areas at night, and hang bells to deter bears.

Earlier this month, Japanese authorities sent troops to assist local authorities in capturing bears and relaxed regulations to facilitate hunting. Several countries, including the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, have advised their citizens about the risks of bear attacks in Japan. A recent incident involved a Japanese woman found dead in a rice field in Akita Prefecture, with police suspecting a bear attack. The Asiatic black bear is classified as vulnerable globally, but its numbers in Japan are estimated to have tripled since 2012 due to
reduced hunting. Experts note that climate change is diminishing the bear’s natural food sources, such as oak and beech berries, and the decrease in rural populations combined with more abandoned farms has allowed bears to forage closer to human habitats.