‘Extremely intelligent’ Japanese bear that attacked four people still at large, police say

Bear believed to have unlatched and opened a locked window, and was seen turning on and drinking from a tap Police and hunters in Fukushima, Japan were searching for an “extremely intelligent” bear which, after attacking four people, apparently evaded capture by unlocking a window from the inside. The one-metre-long bear was seen drinking from a tap and showed no reaction when struck by a tranquilliser dart. On Wednesday, the bear was filmed on CCTV chasing and then mauling an employee in a company car park before being chased off by a quick-thinking passerby who drove their car at the animal. Unfortunately, the animal escaped by running inside the office building where it attacked another man, before taking flight again. After injuring two more people, the bear entered an electronics factory, where workers saw it using its paws to turn on a tap. Local officials set four traps at the entrance to the factory and deployed trained personnel with tranquilliser guns. A police officer on watch saw the bear climb over a gate just before 11pm on Wednesday evening. After searching the factory, it was discovered that the bear had apparently escaped by unlatching and opening a locked wind

Jun 5, 2026 → Jun 5, 2026