Japanese authorities have sedated and captured a black bear that had been roaming a residential area near the city of Utsunomiya, close to Tokyo, as the country continues to grapple with a sharp rise in bear encounters and attacks.

Officials said a veterinarian used a tranquiliser gun to subdue the animal after multiple attempts. The first dart missed, while a second and third were fired roughly 15 minutes later before the bear was finally immobilised and taken into custody.

The bear, believed to weigh around 100 kilograms, had been repeatedly sighted by residents more than 20 times since Saturday. It was seen near homes, schools, parks, and even swimming in a river and climbing over backyard fences, raising widespread alarm in the densely populated area.

Authorities confirmed the animal was located about 2.5 kilometres south of Utsunomiya’s main railway station. The operation to capture it took approximately one hour and 40 minutes, according to local police.

The unusual presence of the animal in an urban environment prompted officials to close all 94 public primary and middle schools in the area as a precautionary measure. Authorities also warned residents that there may be more than one bear in the city and urged people to keep doors and windows locked.

Japan is experiencing a record increase in bear-related incidents, with the environment ministry reporting 238 victims of bear attacks in 2025, including 13 fatalities.

Experts say the growing number of encounters is linked to multiple factors, including food shortages in natural habitats, climate-related changes affecting seasonal food sources such as acorns and beechnuts, and the gradual depopulation of rural areas.

As younger generations migrate to cities, many rural and mountainous regions are becoming quieter, reducing human presence that would normally deter wildlife from entering settlements.

While one bear has been captured in Utsunomiya, another remains at large in Fukushima after injuring four people in a residential district last week. Authorities attempted to tranquilise the animal without success.

The Fukushima bear reportedly broke into an electronics factory and evaded police by escaping through a window. Local officials later described the animal as unusually resourceful, with the city’s mayor noting it had been seen drinking water from a tap, possibly turning it on itself—prompting remarks that it appeared “extremely intelligent.”

Drones have now been deployed in search operations as authorities continue efforts to locate the animal.

In response to the escalating situation, the Japanese government has established a ministerial task force and introduced emergency measures aimed at reducing bear-related casualties.

Local governments and private companies are also increasingly adopting technology-based solutions, including surveillance systems and drone monitoring, to track wildlife movement and prevent further incidents.

Officials continue to urge residents in affected regions to remain vigilant as bear sightings spread across parts of Honshu, Hokkaido, and the Tohoku region, where Asiatic black bears are native but increasingly encroaching into human settlements. (ILKHA)