A mother brown bear and her cub walking along a road in Shiretoko National Park — May, Shari Town, Hokkaido. (File photo)
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Local experts revealed that the brown bear that killed a male hiker on Mount Rausu in Shiretoko had previously been identified with the code "SH." They said the mother bear had never shown aggression toward humans.
Low Fear of Humans
The Shiretoko Nature Foundation, which monitors brown bears in the area, had noted that "SH" displayed little fear of humans. She often appeared on roads and responded slowly even when chased away. However, no aggressive behavior toward people had been observed before this incident.
Hiker Alone at Blind Curve
A prefectural investigation found that the attacked man had been running alone down a trail with poor visibility when the encounter occurred. Authorities believe the bear attacked to protect her cubs.
According to the investigation, the hiker had separated from his companion and was descending toward Iwaobetsu Hot Spring. He carried a bear bell but did not have bear spray. The encounter likely happened on a narrow curve in the trail with limited visibility.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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