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

• 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.

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Russian hiker becomes victim of rising bear attacks in Japan