A sign warns of bears along a forest trail in Kanagawa prefecture south of Tokyo in August 2021. (Joseph Ditzler/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO — Large paw prints were found near human remains recovered recently from a mountainous area in western Tokyo, according to Japanese authorities investigating the discovery.
Officials removed the remains Tuesday afternoon from the Nippara area of Okutama, about 30 miles west of Yokota Air Base, a Tokyo Metropolitan Police spokesman said by phone Wednesday.
The victim’s age and gender have not yet been determined, he said. Authorities also found signs that the remains had been damaged by an animal.
The discovery follows a Sunday bear attack that injured a Russian hiker near Mount Kumotori.
The remains were found near a hiking trail about six miles from where that attack occurred, an official with Okutama’s tourism and industry division said by phone Wednesday.
Some Japanese government officials must speak to the media anonymously.
Okutama sits within Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, a mountainous area known for wildlife, including bears, Okutama Mayor Nobumasa Morooka said in a message posted Wednesday on the town’s website.
He noted several pervious bear incidents in the area, including an August attack on a fisherman near the Tama River and injuries to field workers and climbers in recent years.
To reduce risks, the town plans to clear vegetation near homes, remove overgrown fruit trees, increase hunter patrols and drive away bears reported near populated areas, the mayor said.
Officials will trap and cull bears that enter residential zones, he added.
Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force was mobilized in November to help address rising bear threats in northern parts of the country.
Thirteen people were killed and more than 200 injured in bear encounters during the past fiscal year, which ended March 31, according to Japan’s Environment Ministry.
Experts have linked the increase in encounters to expanding forests, shrinking rural populations, reduced food sources and a decline in hunters.
Japan is home to two species of bears, the Japanese black bear and the larger Ussuri brown bear.
Black bears typically stand about 5 feet tall and weigh just over 200 pounds, though adult males can be significantly heavier. Brown bears, found only on Hokkaido, can weigh as much as 880 pounds.
