Tuesday, June 25, an 80-year-old woman went to Mount Hakkoda, in northern Japan, for a morning gathering of bamboo shoots, reports Paris Match. Left around 6 a.m. with another picker, she had planned to meet him in the afternoon after their respective picnics.
Unfortunately, the peaceful getaway turned into a nightmare. Around 8:45 a.m., the woman was found unconscious by another pickeraccording to The Japan Times. A major rescue operation was launched and the victim was transported to hospital. Despite the efforts of doctors, She succumbed to her injuries in the afternoon. According to the first elements of the investigation, the octogenarian was attacked by an adult Asiatic black bear, about 1.5 meters tall, at around 8:30 a.m.. The attack was lightning fast, leaving the picker no chance.
The Aomori region, a region plagued by bear attacks
While this attack is the first to result in a death in the Aomori region this year, Incidents involving bears are not uncommon. In fact, since the start of the year, Japan has recorded 15 bear attacks. Friday, June 21, a 58-year-old man was found dead in the mountains of the town of Shinano, probably the victim of a bear attack. His body wore deep scratches on face and back. The same day, a man in his 60s was seriously injured in the face and head in a bear attack while fishing alone by a river in Ibigawa town.
These repeated attacks are reminiscent of The increasing presence of bears in Japan’s peri-urban areasattracted by the search for food. In 2023, the Ministry of the Environment recorded 219 bear attacks, including 6 fatal ones.
Enhanced security measures
In response to the increase in attacks, Japanese authorities have stepped up security measures. Warning signs have been installed in risk areas and control raids have been organized.. Hikers and pickers are also urged to be vigilant and take precautions, such as walking in groups and making noise to signal their presence.
Despite these measures, it is difficult to completely prevent interactions between humans and bears, especially since these wild animals are unpredictable and fiercely protect their territories. The tragedy experienced by the octogenarian bamboo shoot picker is a sad reminder of the dangers posed by these wild animalseven in areas usually frequented by humans.
