Imagine if your school was shut because a bear was walking through your city. That is what happened in Utsunomiya, a city north of Tokyo in Japan, where a bear roamed the streets for four days before being caught on Tuesday. The animal was seen in several places, including a shopping arcade, a university and a wholesale market. Its presence caused fear among families and led to a large search by police, hunters and city officials.
The search also involved helicopters as people tried to track the bear’s movements. On Tuesday, the bear was spotted near a private home. Dozens of officers, hunters and officials surrounded the area before the animal was safely hit with a tranquiliser dart. The sedated bear was then loaded onto a truck.
Many local people were relieved when the bear was caught. Issei Okabe, who lives near the house where the bear was found, said he was especially worried because his child goes to a nearby primary school. All 94 public primary and middle schools in Utsunomiya were closed on Monday and Tuesday because of the sightings.
Bear sightings have become a growing concern in Japan. Last year, a record 13 people were killed by bears in the country. Experts say bears may be appearing more often because they are hungry after hibernation and because food such as acorns, deer and boars has become more available in some areas.
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