Russian hiker attacked by black bear in Japan amid spike in incidents

Tuesday 19 May 2026 09:29 BSTA Japanese black bear (Getty/iStock)A Russian hiker was seriously injured in a bear attack while hiking in Okutama, a mountainous area west of Tokyo. The man, in his 30s, sustained injuries to his arm and face and was airlifted to a local hospital. He was hiking alone without a bear deterrent when the incident occurred; authorities have since installed a cage to try and capture the animal. The attack comes amidst a significant increase in bear sightings in Okutama, with approximately 40 reported since April. Japan is experiencing a surge in dangerous bear encounters, linked to growing bear populations, climate-related food scarcity, and rural depopulation, driving animals closer to human areas. In fullRussian hiker becomes victim of rising bear attacks in Japan

Raccontata daindependent.co.uk