Japanese city captures bear that caused fear, school closures

A bear that had caused widespread fear and led to the closure of all city-run schools in Utsunomiya, Japan, was captured yesterday. The animal had been sighted multiple times since Saturday, causing panic among residents in the city of half a million people, located north of Tokyo.

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The bear was first spotted on Saturday near a park in Utsunomiya, a city north of Tokyo with a population of half a million.

Authorities issued bear warnings through social media and public announcements, urging people to stay indoors and secure their homes. All city-run schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the sightings, which included areas near a library and a community center. The bear was eventually found on private property and tranquilized by a veterinarian, according to city official Ryuhei Irie. No one was injured during the ordeal.

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City officials have said they received dozens of reports of bear sightings in the following days, including near a library, schools and a community center, causing them to close all city-run schools Monday and yesterday.

Officials used a drone to track the bear after it was spotted on a university campus earlier in the day, leading to the cancellation of classes there as well. While authorities believe only one bear was involved, investigations are ongoing. This incident is the latest in a series of bear encounters in Japan, reflecting the growing issue of bears encroaching on human settlements as the country's bear population increases and its human population ages and declines.

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Yesterday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun, city official Ryuhei Irie said.