Sweden to kill 20% of its brown bears in annual hunt
GuardianSEP 1 2024
Japan to Ease Bear-Hunting Laws Amid Rising Attacks
Above: A brown bear on the loose in Sapporo, Hokkaido prefecture. Image copyright: STR/Contributor/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
It's good that Japan is taking steps to protect people by allowing them to swiftly act in emergencies amid a surge in bear attacks fuelled by climate change, rural depopulation, and food shortages. However, there's an urgent need for long-term strategies, including habitat conservation and improved wildlife management, to balance safety with ecological responsibility.
Narrative B
Japan's escalating bear encounters highlight the importance of non-lethal solutions to human-wildlife conflict. While hunting addresses immediate threats, excessive culling endangers ecosystems and biodiversity. Habitat restoration, community education, and preventive measures like bear-proofing settlements and enhancing food availability in forests can foster coexistence and reduce the reliance on lethal methods.