Sendai Culls Bear Under Japan's New Wildlife Protection Law, Marking First Such Incident

Historic Culling in Sendai

The city of Sendai, located in Miyagi Prefecture, has carried out the first culling of a bear under Japan's recently revised wildlife protection and management law. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, when a 1.4-meter-long male bear was shot and killed near a residential area in Kagitori, Taihaku Ward. This event signifies a pivotal moment in Japan's approach to managing increasing human-wildlife conflicts.

Details of the Incident

The presence of the bear was first reported to Miyagi prefectural police by a resident around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The animal was spotted in a forest adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Following the report, both the prefectural police and the Sendai municipal government issued warnings to nearby residents. Citing potential danger to the public, the municipal government, in collaboration with the police, secured the area. A member of the city's wildlife damage control team then shot the bear with a hunting rifle shortly before 6 a.m. on Wednesday. According to the city government, the bear was located at the bottom of a slope, ensuring that any stray bullets would hit the ground and not endanger residents.

The Revised Wildlife Protection Law

The culling was conducted under Japan's revised wildlife protection and management law, which officially took effect in September 2025. This legislative amendment empowers municipal governments to authorize the shooting of bears and wild boars when they enter residential or other inhabited areas, provided that surrounding safety can be ensured. Previously, emergency shootings in urban areas were largely prohibited or required direct orders from police officers. The Environment Ministry has since issued guidelines outlining the conditions and procedures for such actions, including consulting hunters on firing directions and establishing restricted areas to protect residents. While this was the third instance nationwide where a municipal government authorized an emergency shooting, it was the first time a bullet was actually fired to cull an animal under the new system.

Context of Rising Bear Encounters

The revision of the law comes in response to a significant increase in bear sightings and attacks across Japan. The fiscal year 2025 has seen a record number of bear-related fatalities, with seven deaths confirmed so far, surpassing the previous high of six in fiscal year 2023. Between April and September of this year, 99 bear-related bodily harm incidents involving 108 people were recorded, marking the worst pace on record. Experts attribute this surge to several factors, including a declining rural population leading to abandoned farmlands, climate change impacting bears' natural food sources like acorns, and a decrease in the number of licensed hunters. In light of these challenges, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. has announced plans to offer policies to local governments, covering property damage caused by bullets during bear extermination efforts.