Police are searching for an 'intelligent' bear in Fukushima, Japan, that has reportedly opened windows and turned on taps for a drink. The beast has attacked four people so far, according to reports.
Bear's Rampage
The bear was caught on CCTV on Wednesday chasing and mauling a worker in a company car park before a motorist scared it away by driving at it. It then attacked another man at a nearby office building before fleeing again. The animal injured two more people before entering an electronics factory, where workers saw it use its paws to turn on a tap and drink.
Escape from Traps
Trained personnel with tranquiliser guns were deployed, and four traps were set at the factory entrance. However, the cunning creature avoided them by unlatching a locked window and escaping. Scratch marks around the lock were found.
At an emergency press conference, Fukushima officials said the bear was hit with a tranquilliser dart, but the anaesthetic had no effect. Mayor Yuki Baba stated, 'This bear was seen turning on a faucet to drink water and appeared capable of opening a locked window by itself. I believe it was an extremely intelligent bear.'
Ongoing Search
Government officers, police, hunters, and drones have been deployed but the bear remains at large. 'The bear was in an agitated state, creating an extremely difficult situation where we had to proceed with caution while monitoring its condition. The city will continue to work in coordination with relevant agencies and do our utmost to ensure safety,' Baba said.
Local schools closed on Thursday but reopened on Friday, with teachers locking ground-floor windows and doors as a precaution. Bears have killed 13 people in Japan in the year to March, with serious attacks numbering 238—an all-time high.
Reasons for Increased Encounters
Changes in food availability, climate, and rural populations are thought to be factors. Japan recently changed gun laws to allow shots in residential areas during emergencies, but in this case, firearms were not used because the factory contained flammable materials.
