A bear is believed to have assaulted and possibly consumed a local fisherman, as police found a human head near the scene and observed boots dangling from the animal’s jaw.
The gruesome scene took place at Lake Shumarinai on Hokkaido Island, Japan, on May 15. Toshihiro Nishikawa, a 54-year-old fisherman, went for a fishing trip to an isolated spot near the lake and did not return, prompting his colleagues to inform local authorities in the city of Horokanai. A boatman, who had earlier transported Nishikawa to his spot, noticed a bear with what appeared to be fishing boots in its mouth, leading to the creation of a hunting team.
The team managed to find and kill the bear. In their search, they discovered a human head near where Nishikawa was last reported. It is yet to be confirmed whether the found remains belong to the missing fisherman. Following the incident, the Horokanai municipal office issued a warning, advising residents to be extremely cautious when venturing into bear-populated regions or partaking in farming or forestry activities.
In Hokkaido, encounters between humans and the 6,500 to 10,000 Ussuri brown bears, a species known for its size and weight, are not uncommon. There were at least 14 incidents in 2021 involving these bears resulting in human injury or death. Despite their smaller size compared to the North American grizzly bears, Ussuri brown bears pose a similar threat.
