Four bears were killed in Japan on Monday as the country steps up a culling campaign amid a surge in attacks.

Why It Matters

This year has been the deadliest for bear attacks since Japan began keeping records in the early 2000s, with the Ministry of the Environment reporting 13 fatalities between April and November—three more than in April 2024-March 2025.

The spike has been attributed in part to climate change and the rapid depopulation of rural areas in Japan. The government has rolled out a series of countermeasures, including hiring hunters and training riot police to take part in the culling.

Newsweek reached out to Japan's Ministry of the Environment by email with a request for comment.

What To Know

Three bears were killed Monday morning after being spotted near a Shinto sh

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