Japan To Trial AI Bear Spotting System After Sharp Rise In Attacks

Over the past year, there has been an alarming surge in bear attacks on people in Japan, leaving the authorities worried. According to the Japanese Ministry of Environment, over 200 people have survived bear attacks in 2023, already surpassing the number of 158 that were reported in 2020. While bears are known for inhabiting northern parts of Japan, their intrusion into human-inhabited areas can be attributed to several reasons, including climate change and an ageing population. In the wake of such a serious situation, Japan is now preparing to trial an AI bear-warning system to track its activities.

A pilot system will be set up in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, to use cameras for surveillance and monitor live feeds from government, municipal, and private security cameras to identify bear movements. Upon tracing the bears on the move in areas close to people, instant warnings will be sent to relevant authorities, police, and hunters, according to a Kyodo News report.

Besides these, AI will also be used to monitor their movement patterns and try to predict their future course of action. The pilot system is planned to be brought into action by summer 2024. If found effective, it will be rolled out in other areas where frequent bear sightings have been reported.

On the other hand, a separate experiment is also being planned for Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan to monitor bear appearances. It will involve using automatic cameras.

Rising bear attacks in Japan

The plan comes at a time when Japan has reported around 219 bear attacks, including six deaths across multiple prefectures last year. Besides climate change and population growth, scarce food sources due to poor crops are also believed to be the reason for more such incidents. To keep a check on the animals, the city is also cooperating with the security system manufacturers to deter them from entering the cities.

In a recent one, a terrifying bear attack was reported near the forest area in Hokkaido, northern Japan. The video shows the wild animal charging a truck, leaving the windscreen cracked in the brutal attack.

The entire incident was captured on the truck’s dashcam. Shared on the X handle, the video instantly went viral, garnering over 20 million views and over 1.5 lakh likes.