In Japan, a bill allowing for the shooting of wild animals such as bears and wild boars in “emergency situations” has passed through parliament.

The bill, which allows municipalities to authorize hunters to fire in case wild animals enter residential areas, has been enacted after passing through the Japanese parliament. Within the law, brown bears, Asian black bears, and wild boars are defined as dangerous animals, and conditions for the use of firearms in “emergency situations” have been established.

EMERGENCY CONDITIONS DETERMINED In this context, it was determined that the swift capture of wild animals is difficult without firearms and that there is no risk of bullets hitting people as emergency conditions. The law stated that in cases where firearms are used, municipal officials may impose traffic restrictions or order evacuation to ensure the safety of residents in the area, and local governments will be responsible for compensating for damages caused by bullets hitting buildings.

6 PEOPLE KILLED IN BEAR ATTACKS Wildlife authorities in the country reported that in the one-year period after March 2023, six people lost their lives due to bear attacks and approximately 200 people were injured.