Passengers Stranded As Train In Japan Hits Bear

In a chilling incident that underscores the increasing encounters between humans and bears in Japan, eight people were forced to spend a frigid night inside an unheated train after the vehicle struck a bear. This incident occurred in the northern region of the country, which has seen a surge in bear-related incidents in recent times. The rise in bear attacks on people this year can be attributed to a poor acorn harvest, which has compelled the animals to venture further in search of food before their winter hibernation. The collision took place in the city of Furano, on the island of Hokkaido, when a small train operated by Japan Railways hit a 1.8-meter-tall (almost six-foot) bear around 11:30 pm on Monday, according to officials. Following the accident, the train was incapacitated, and passengers were advised to remain onboard until hunters could verify the absence of other bears in the vicinity. However, as hunters are not permitted to discharge firearms during nighttime, the passengers had to endure the cold until dawn, as per JR Hokkaido. At daybreak, the bear was discovered lifeless and was subsequently removed by railway staff, guided by the hunters. Describing the ordeal, one of the passengers recounted, "I felt this sudden jolt. It looks like the heating system was left broken so it was cold inside, which was a bit tough." The environment ministry's preliminary data revealed that in the current fiscal year, bear attacks have resulted in five fatalities in Japan, with a total of 180 people involved in such encounters, a significant increase from the average of 106 over the previous five years. This spike in bear incidents extends to sightings as well, with 14,943 reported across Japan through September, marking a notable increase of 4,210 compared to the same period the previous year. Local officials suggest that the growing presence of bears might be a result of various factors, including bears losing their fear of humans and an increase in tourist activity following the pandemic.