Japan enacts bill to allow shooting of urban bears

The bill to revise the wildlife protection and hunting law was approved at the House of Councillors. It will take effect within six months.

With more wild bears coming down to human areas across Japan in recent years, the revised law is aimed at making it possible to deal with them promptly and prevent casualties.

The law designates animals with a high risk of harming people as "dangerous wildlife animals" that can be shot. The government plans to designate brown bears, black bears, and wild boars as dangerous animals under an ordinance.

Under the revised law, municipal authorities can give permission to shoot dangerous wildlife animals when such animals enter people's daily living areas, such as residential areas and public transportation, and there is a need to act urgently to prevent harm to people.

Previously, shooting in urban areas was permitted only with an order by a police officer.

From the viewpoint of securing people's safety, the government assumes that permission for shooting under the revised law will be granted for cases in which bears and other dangerous wildlife animals are stuck in buildings or on the tree.

The revised law stipulates that municipalities compensate for losses from shootings, such as structural damage caused by a fired bullet.