The GPS watch worn by a Japanese hiker who was killed by a bear has surfaced with frightening details about his final moments, including the bear returning to his body the following day, a newspaper reported.
This year, bears have killed a record 13 people in Japan and injured more than 200 others, while sightings of bears near schools and aggressive behavior in supermarkets have raised anxiety, particularly in rural northern areas.
The hiker’s GPS device, which logs routes via satellite and can monitor heart rate, was recovered after the fatal attack on August 14, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
Data from the watch showed that around 11 a.m. it abruptly deviated from the hiking trail in Hokkaido and moved down a forested slope. In dense brush, the device circled and repeatedly crossed the same location.
The watch indicated that the man’s heart stopped beating roughly 100 to 130 yards from the trail, suggesting he died at that spot.
The device stayed put all night and then moved again around 9 a.m. the next morning, traveling several hundred yards through the brush.
Experts believe this pattern implies the brown bear returned, dragged the man’s body away, and left the watch behind in that area.
Three days later, on August 15, a bear with two cubs was seen dragging his body in its mouth. All three animals were subsequently killed.
Nearby, investigators found a mound of earth created by the bear and traces of the man, who was engaged to be married.
The victim’s parents were asked to identify the remains, though police advised them to focus on his face due to the extensive injuries.
Bear sightings at a Japanese ski resort have also been reported
Separately, a ski resort in Japan said it had received bear sightings, and a snowboarder described being chased on the slope by one of the animals.
“We’ve been patrolling daily for bear footprints since two sighting reports emerged on Sunday,” said Kazuya Shirakawa of Hakuba47 Mountain Sports Park in the Nagano region, noting that staff had not observed any further bear signs since then.
Bears typically enter hibernation in winter, but authorities say a man was attacked earlier this month while clearing snow near his home.
A snowboarder who posted a video on Instagram showing his encounter with a bear told TV Asahi that the animal “chased him” on the ski slope. The footage, uploaded four days ago, showed a bear approaching from below the course and nearly colliding with him as their eyes met before the bear withdrew.
Experts say climate-related food shortages, such as a decline in acorn supplies, are pushing bears closer to human settlements. Warmer temperatures may also disrupt hibernation patterns for brown bears, which can weigh around 1,100 pounds and outrun a person.
Japan hosts two bear species: Asian black bears (often called moon bears) and larger brown bears that inhabit Hokkaido’s main island. Thousands of bears are shot each year.
Researchers point to climate change affecting both the bears’ food sources and hibernation cycles as a key factor. There are additional consequences tied to Japan’s aging population and rural depopulation, which allow bears to spread into human areas more easily.
Biologist Koji Yamazaki of Tokyo University of Agriculture suggested that shrinking rural populations give bears “an opportunity to expand their range,” a view echoed by CBS News in earlier reporting.
Links and tags:
- Bear
- Japan
Would you like this rewritten version to emphasize safety tips for hikers or focus more on the bear ecology aspect? Also, would you prefer a more neutral, strictly factual tone or a slightly more opinionated piece that invites reader discussion?
