Japanese authorities have captured a bear that had been wandering in the city of Utsunomiya for several days, leading to the closure of nearly 100 schools over the past two days for safety.
On Tuesday, 9 Jun 2026 GMT+7, a bear that had been roaming the streets of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, for four days—causing the closure of several schools—was finally caught, ending a search operation involving dozens of police officers and hunters.
Officials had been tracking the bear for several days after multiple sightings in shopping areas, a university, and a wholesale market, using helicopters to assist in the search.
AFP photographers reported that on Tuesday, dozens of police, hunters, and city officials surrounded a private residence where the bear had been seen. Authorities attempted to tranquilize it with a dart gun; local media reported that the first two shots missed, but the third successfully hit the bear.
Residents of Utsunomiya told reporters they felt very relieved that the bear had been captured.
“My child attends a nearby elementary school, and the news reported a bear sighting in that area,” said Issei Okabe, a 37-year-old house painter living in an apartment next to the house where the bear was caught, to AFP. “Then I saw our home on the news... I was very shocked.”
The bear's appearance led to the closure of all 94 public elementary and junior high schools in the city on Monday and Tuesday. However, a local official told AFP it remains unclear whether there was only one bear or multiple bears roaming the city.
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Source:cna