OSAKA - A prefecture in western Japan is drawing attention for a unique bear management program that uses microchips implanted in captured animals to estimate population levels and guide culling decisions, as rising sightings across the country fuel calls for more effective countermeasures.
Hyogo Prefecture says it is the first in Japan to use information gathered from microchipped bears to determine an appropriate population size and maintain a balance between conservation and population control.
The initiative began in 2003, when bears in Hyogo were considered to be at risk of extinction and officials launched a survey primarily aimed at conservation.
Researchers implanted identification chips in captured bears, accumulated data on the animals and developed their own formula to estimate the overall population.
As bear numbers recovered, the prefecture shifted its focus to managing the population while preventing a return to endangered levels.
Drawing on the Ministry of the Environment's bear guidelines, the Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo, has set a target of around 800 bears, a level at which it considers they are not at risk of extinction for the time being.
The prefecture has also introduced measures aimed at reducing encounters between bears and people rather than relying solely on culling.
These include removing abandoned persimmon trees, a favored food source for bears, and creating buffer zones between forests and residential areas to discourage the animals from entering communities.
The bear population is increasing by about 15 percent annually and would double in roughly five years without culling, according to University of Hyogo professor Mayumi Yokoyama, who is involved in the management program.
The prefecture currently estimates bear numbers across two regions that span neighboring prefectures. Initial estimates in 2026 put the population at around 700 to 800 bears in each region, and those figures have formed the basis of this year's response plan as officials seek to keep numbers at sustainable levels.
Nationwide, however, comprehensive data remain elusive.
According to the Environment Ministry, 19 prefectures were independently estimating bear populations as of March 2026.
Differences in survey methods and the frequency of monitoring have made comparisons difficult, and the ministry has said it will begin surveys using a unified methodology in an effort to obtain more consistent data.
Yokoyama said local estimates do not always match conditions in the field.
"Bear sightings have not decreased despite extensive captures," Yokoyama said. "The estimates used by local governments may not reflect the true population."
She said a shortage of personnel has been one reason monitoring and countermeasures have lagged.
As of April 2025, there were 196 prefectural employees nationwide with specialized knowledge of wildlife protection, and only 16 prefectures employed five or more such specialists.
"In areas where bear-related damage is high, capturing bears should take priority," Yokoyama said.
She added that authorities need sufficient budgets to implement appropriate population management plans and hire dedicated staff with advanced expertise in bear countermeasures, describing the securing of personnel for research and response efforts as an urgent necessity.
