An 82-year-old woman survived a bear attack in northern Japan, the latest in a series of such incidents across the country.
What's happening?
In early October, a security camera in Daisen, a city in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, captured the horrific attack.
The video, shared on TikTok by CNA (@channelnewsasia), shows a bear running after the woman, jumping just past her and clawing at her face. Understandably, the woman screams in fear and tries to get away, but the bear goes after her again.
Fortunately, a car stopped and the woman was able to get in before she was seriously injured. According to CNA, she was taken to the hospital with scratches on her face.
“This could have ended so horribly,” one TikTok commenter wrote. “It's a good thing it was a street that people drove through.”
CNA also reported that this was at least the third bear attack in Japan in just a few days.
Why is the bear attack concerning?
As Phys.org shared, seven people have been killed in Japan this year by bear attacks, the highest number since officials started keeping the numbers nearly two decades ago. At least 108 people have been injured in such attacks across the country since April.
Unfortunately, these types of encounters have become increasingly common around the world.
Another video showed a bear attacking a Florida homeowner in his front yard, and a Canadian man required surgery after he and his wife were attacked by a pair of grizzly bears along the Kootenay River.
The exact reasons for each attack are difficult to determine, but in general experts believe that the increase in attacks on animals is due to a number of man-made factors.
Urban sprawl and development have pushed wild animals out of their natural habitats into unfamiliar places, such as neighborhoods. Meanwhile, heat-trapping pollution has caused global temperatures to rise, exacerbating extreme weather events such as droughts.
This has led to a change in the habitats and food supplies of many animals, which can leave wildlife feeling scared, vulnerable and ready to lash out.
What can be done to stay safe?
The National Park Service offers several tips on how to stay safe around bears. First, it's not surprising that you should be aware of your surroundings and keep your distance as much as possible.
Knowing what type of bear you have encountered is critical in case the animal attacks.
If a black bear attacks you, the NPS urges you to fight back by any means necessary. However, if it is a grizzly or brown bear, the agency says to cover your head and neck with your arms and play dead.
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