‘Extremely intelligent’ bear at large in Japan after hurting four

AFP | Tokyo

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An “extremely intelligent” bear that injured four people in northern Japan remains at large as of yesterday, after apparently unlatching a window while evading capture and turning on a water tap, officials said.

A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year, and there has been a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.

After attacking four people at two factories in Fukushima on Tuesday, the bear took shelter inside one of the buildings, local media reported.

It dodged capture despite efforts by hunters and responders equipped with traps and anaesthetic guns, and escaped late Wednesday.

The bear remains at large as of yesterday morning, a Fukushima official said.

Fukushima city mayor Yuki Baba told reporters Thursday that evidence suggested the animal “unlocked the window on its own” to flee, adding that claw marks had been found near the exit.

It is also believed the bear “turned on the water tap” to drink, he added, describing it as “extremely intelligent”.

“With the cooperation of hunters, police and firefighters, I believe we took all possible measures available to us” to catch it, Baba said.