Japan cabinet approves ’emergency’ urban bear shootings
More than 9,000 bears were killed in Japan in the 12 months leading to April 2024.
Across the country, 219 people were attacked by bears in 12 months to April 2024, with six human fatalities — the highest since statistics began nearly two decades ago.
By AFP
February 21, 2025
A brown bear on the loose after injuring four people in Sapporo, Hokkaido prefecture, in 2021 - Copyright AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE/AFP/File Handout
Japan’s cabinet approved a bill Friday allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas at their own discretion after human encounters with the wild animals hit record levels.
Across the country, 219 people were attacked by bears in 12 months to April 2024, with six human fatalities — the highest since statistics began nearly two decades ago.
Climate change affecting bear food sources and hibernation times, along with depopulation caused by an ageing society, are causing the animals to venture into towns more frequently.
The revised wildlife protection and management law allows “emergency shootings” following complaints that hunters were hampered by red tape.
The environment ministry hopes to present the bill to parliament in the coming months and get it enacted before autumn, when bear sightings typically surge, an environment ministry official told AFP, declining to be named.
Currently, shooting animals such as bears or wild boar in residential areas is forbidden.
Even when bears hole themselves up in populated areas, hunters are not allowed to shoot without being given the green light by police.
Even then, police “can only issue such a command in an extremely dire situation, such as when a person is seconds away from being attacked”, the ministry official said.
Under current rules, “you’d have to wait until someone is actually in danger to get police approval”, he said.
In December, a bear rampaged through a supermarket in northern Japan for two days before being lured out with food coated in honey.
It wounded a 47-year-old man before shoppers were evacuated and the bear laid waste to the meat department.
More than 9,000 bears were killed in Japan in the 12 months leading to April 2024.
More than 9,000 bears were killed in Japan in the 12 months leading to April 2024.
Across the country, 219 people were attacked by bears in 12 months to April 2024, with six human fatalities — the highest since statistics began nearly two decades ago.
By AFP
February 21, 2025
A brown bear on the loose after injuring four people in Sapporo, Hokkaido prefecture, in 2021 - Copyright AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE/AFP/File Handout
Japan’s cabinet approved a bill Friday allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas at their own discretion after human encounters with the wild animals hit record levels.
Across the country, 219 people were attacked by bears in 12 months to April 2024, with six human fatalities — the highest since statistics began nearly two decades ago.
Climate change affecting bear food sources and hibernation times, along with depopulation caused by an ageing society, are causing the animals to venture into towns more frequently.
The revised wildlife protection and management law allows “emergency shootings” following complaints that hunters were hampered by red tape.
The environment ministry hopes to present the bill to parliament in the coming months and get it enacted before autumn, when bear sightings typically surge, an environment ministry official told AFP, declining to be named.
Currently, shooting animals such as bears or wild boar in residential areas is forbidden.
Even when bears hole themselves up in populated areas, hunters are not allowed to shoot without being given the green light by police.
Even then, police “can only issue such a command in an extremely dire situation, such as when a person is seconds away from being attacked”, the ministry official said.
Under current rules, “you’d have to wait until someone is actually in danger to get police approval”, he said.
In December, a bear rampaged through a supermarket in northern Japan for two days before being lured out with food coated in honey.
It wounded a 47-year-old man before shoppers were evacuated and the bear laid waste to the meat department.
More than 9,000 bears were killed in Japan in the 12 months leading to April 2024.
By AFP
February 20, 2025
Six elephants died after a train hit them on the tracks and then derailed at Habarana in eastern Sri Lanka - Copyright AFP THOMAS KIENZLE
Amal JAYASINGHE
A Sri Lankan passenger train derailed Thursday after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island’s worst such wildlife accident, police said.
The express train was travelling near a wildlife reserve at Habarana, some 180 kilometres (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo, when it hit the herd before dawn.
Videos shot of the aftermath showed one elephant standing guard over an injured youngster lying beside the tracks, with the tips of their trunks curled together.
“Three baby elephants were among the six killed,” government spokesman and media minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters.
“Elephants being runover by trains is something that is not uncommon, but our attention is focused on this case because of the sheer numbers.”
Local police said two other elephants escaped with serious injuries.
Jayatissa said the government was working on a new mechanism to reduce the number of wild animals hit by trains in sparsely populated jungle areas of the island.
“All systems that were in place, like reducing speed, have failed,” he said.
Killing or harming elephants is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka, which has an estimated 7,000 wild elephants.
The animals are considered national treasures, partly due to their significance in Buddhist culture.
In August 2016, three elephant calves and their mother were run over by an express train and killed at Cheddikulam, about 260 kilometres (162 miles) north of Colombo.
One the baby elephants was dragged about 300 meters (990 feet) along the track after being hit by the train which was allowed to travel at speeds up to 100 kilometres an hour (60 mph).
Two baby elephants and their pregnant mother were killed in a similar accident by a train in Habarana, the scene of Thursday’s tragedy, in September 2018.
Since then, the authorities ordered train drivers to observe speed limits to minimise injury to elephants when going through areas where they cross the lines.
– Growing conflict –
The elephant deaths comes days after the authorities expressed concern over the growing impact of conflict between humans and elephants due to habitat encroachment.
Farmers scratching a living from smallholder plots often fight back against elephants raiding their crops.
Deputy environment minister Anton Jayakody told AFP on Sunday that 150 people and 450 elephants were killed in clashes in 2023.
“We are planning to introduce multiple barriers — these may include electric fences, trenches, or other deterrents — to make it more difficult for wild elephants to stray into villages,” he said.
A study last year in the Journal of Threatened Taxa detailed how Asian elephants loudly mourn and bury their dead calves, reminiscent of human funeral rites.
Asian elephants are recognised as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
An estimated 26,000 of them live in the wild, mostly in India with some in Southeast Asia, surviving for an average of 60-70 years outside captivity.
Killing of 14 donkeys in Turkish Cyprus sparks outrage
February 19 2025
ISTANBUL
Fourteen donkeys have been brutally killed by unidentified individuals in Turkish Cyprus, triggering rage among the citizens.
Haberin Devamı
Donkeys, symbols of Turkish Cyprus and unique to the region, live in the Karpaz Peninsula's Taşkent Nature Park, attracting major attention among tourists.
However, 14 of these special, indigenous donkeys were found dead near a landfill, presumably shot at close range.
Similar attacks have also occurred in the past in the region as local farmers have previously expressed frustration over the donkeys damaging crops.
The latest incident sparked widespread outrage across the Turkish Cypriot community, with strong reactions from animal rights groups, politicians and the public.
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar condemned the killings, vowing to closely follow the investigation.
Kemal Başat, the director of the nature park, on the other hand, criticized the lack of support for donkey conservation efforts, noting that the care of a single donkey only costs 200 euros for a period of ten years.
They care for around 3,000 donkeys; however, they could only find sponsors for five in the last 12 months, citing that public support and financial backing remains minimal.
“At least 14 donkeys were ruthlessly killed. Hundreds of people liked, commented on, and shared our post on social media regarding this matter,” he said, noting that authorities also continuously posted statements. “We had calls consistently and had in-person meetings. But what is the outcome? I'm not sure.”
The Karpaz donkeys have become an iconic part of the region, yet their protection remains an issue as authorities face mounting pressure to prevent further attacks.
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