Two men have been killed in apparent bear attacks over the weekend in the same area of a forest region in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture.
According to police, the body of Noboru Takahashi, 78, was found at around 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Fuji TV quoted police as saying he had bite and scratch marks on his body consistent with a bear attack.
Takahashi and his wife had gone picking bamboo shoots in the forest on Sunday morning. His wife said they had been blowing whistles to scare away bears. However, they were approached by a bear and Noboru yelled at her to run away, after which his whereabouts became unknown. Police believe the bear mauled the man and dragged him away.
The area is known as a bear habitat, even though many locals frequently visit it to pick bamboo shoots.
In another apparent bear attack in the same area, police found the body of an elderly man on Saturday. His body also had bite and scratch marks.
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Source: Japan Today Image: ANN
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