An Unprecedented National Crisis

The government of Japan took the extraordinary step on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, of deploying its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to northern Akita prefecture to combat a record-breaking surge in bear attacks that has terrorized rural communities. Since April 2025, Japan's Environment Ministry has recorded over 100 injuries and at least 12 fatalities nationwide from bear encounters, the highest number of deaths since statistics began in 2006. Akita prefecture is the epicentre of the crisis, accounting for at least four deaths and over 50 attacks since May.

The military's involvement was requested by Akita's governor, Kenta Suzuki, who stated local authorities were "desperate" due to a lack of manpower. The deployed soldiers are tasked with setting traps, transporting hunters, and disposing of carcasses, but are not authorized to use firearms to cull the animals. The operation began in the city of Kazuno, where residents have been warned to stay indoors after dark and avoid surrounding forests.

Drivers of the Conflict: A Perfect Storm

The spike in attacks is attributed to a confluence of factors. Experts point to a poor harvest of beech nuts and acorns, staple foods for the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), forcing them to venture into populated areas in search of sustenance before their winter hibernation. This has led to bears being spotted near schools, supermarkets, and train stations, with encounters becoming an almost daily occurrence. Farmers have reported significant crop damage, with one orchard operator in Kazuno losing over 200 apples.

Compounding the issue are Japan's significant demographic shifts. Rural areas are experiencing rapid depopulation and aging, leading to abandoned farmland and a decline in the number of experienced hunters who traditionally managed wildlife populations. This has created a landscape where the boundaries between human settlements and wildlife habitats have become dangerously blurred.

A Global Problem with Local Resonance for Kenya

While geographically distant, Japan's crisis is a powerful reflection of the challenges facing Kenya, where human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a severe and growing threat to both lives and livelihoods. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reported that between July 2023 and June 2025, 255 people were killed in over 26,600 HWC incidents. These conflicts also resulted in 725 injuries, over 9,300 instances of crop damage, and the predation of 5,200 livestock.

Like in Japan, the drivers of HWC in Kenya are multifaceted, stemming from human population growth, agricultural expansion into wildlife corridors, habitat loss, and the impacts of climate change, such as droughts that force animals into human settlements in search of water and pasture. Elephants are responsible for a significant portion of crop raiding, while predators like lions and hyenas frequently attack livestock.

Contrasting Approaches to a Shared Challenge

The responses of the two nations highlight different strategies in managing this complex issue. Japan's deployment of the military is an emergency measure, reflecting a situation that has escalated beyond the capacity of local civilian authorities. The government is also considering revisions to hunting rules and creating a dedicated task force to formulate a national response.

In Kenya, the KWS focuses on a multi-pronged strategy that includes prevention, mitigation, and compensation. This involves constructing extensive electric fencing, conducting wildlife drives to move animals away from farms, and community education programs. Between January and March 2025 alone, KWS conducted over 2,400 problem-animal control patrols. The Kenyan government also runs a compensation scheme for victims of HWC, though pending claims highlight the significant financial burden of the crisis.

The IUCN notes that HWC is a global phenomenon, intensified by human population growth and habitat loss. As both Japan's shrinking rural towns and Kenya's expanding communities grapple with the proximity of wildlife, the incidents in Akita serve as a critical case study. They underscore the universal challenge of balancing human development with wildlife conservation and the urgent need for sustainable, long-term strategies to foster coexistence.