In an unprecedented move, local authorities in Utsunomiya, Japan, have ordered the closure of all 94 public primary and middle schools as an elusive black bear continues to roam the city streets. The bear, first spotted on Saturday morning in the northern part of the city center, has been sighted multiple times across residential and commercial areas over three consecutive days.
Bear Spotted in Multiple Locations
The roughly one-meter-long bear was captured on surveillance footage running through a central shopping district, highlighting how deep it has ventured into urban areas. Sightings were reported in a residential district, a public park, a high school, a junior school, and even a shopping arcade. More than 10 bear sightings have been reported across Utsunomiya since Saturday.
Search Efforts Intensify
Hunters, police officers, and local government officials have intensified efforts to locate the animal. A city official told AFP, "We have vehicles out to areas where a bear was seen to make people aware and to urge people to stay indoors or in vehicles." Search teams continue to patrol areas where sightings have been reported, and residents are advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement. Officials remain uncertain whether the sightings involve a single bear or multiple animals.
Rising Bear Encounters in Japan
The incident comes amid a growing number of bear encounters across Japan. According to Japanese authorities, 13 people were killed in bear attacks last year, the highest number on record. Experts attribute the rise in encounters to habitat changes and food shortages that push bears closer to populated areas, particularly after emerging from hibernation. In Utsunomiya, only two unconfirmed bear sightings were reported throughout the previous year, making the current situation highly unusual.
Public Safety Measures
Local authorities deployed public address vehicles across the city of about 510,000 residents, blasting announcements urging people to stay indoors and lock their windows. The search was still ongoing on Monday after another sighting was reported near a wholesale market earlier in the day. The closure of all 94 public primary and junior high schools underscores the seriousness of the situation as officials work to ensure public safety.
