Bears in Japan may be turning into man-eaters

Animal experts warn that bears in Japan have become accustomed to such sounds as radios and the ringing of bells used by humans to frighten them away and now may instead be attracted by the sounds as a marker of human prey. In Akita Prefecture, four people assumed to be victims of bear attacks were found dead between May and June. Pieces of human flesh were found in the stomach of one of the bears suspected to have attacked the victims. Other people in the prefecture have been seriously injured in recent attacks. Experts warn that administrative authorities should improve measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Local govt measures criticized Prof. Koji Yamazaki of the Tokyo University of Agriculture, who is in charge of research conducted by the Tokyo-based Japan Bear Network, said, “Entry into the areas where the incidents took place should have been strictly limited, and...