- A new Japanese study indicates that adopting a defensive posture by lying face down and covering the head and neck can prevent serious injuries during a bear attack.
- Researchers from Akita University surveyed 70 individuals injured in bear attacks in 2023, finding that seven people who took this defensive stance escaped serious harm, unlike many others who sustained severe trauma.
- The study, which analysed personal accounts and medical records, is the first of its kind to link specific defensive actions to injury outcomes, noting that 23 cases involved multiple trauma requiring general anaesthesia or amputations.
- Japan has seen a record increase in bear encounters and attacks, with over 50,000 sightings and 238 attacks, including 13 fatalities, reported in the last financial year ending March.
- Many of these incidents occurred in areas close to human habitation, such as farmlands and wooded residential zones, highlighting the need for public awareness regarding bear habits and effective self-protection methods.
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