Bear cub tranquillised and captured after wandering into bank carpark in Japan
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
The Bank of Iwate's underground carpark had its exits and entrances blocked by police after a bear cub entered it on Oct 28, 2025.
PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
MORIOKA, Iwate – A bear cub was found to have entered the underground carpark of a bank in Morioka city early on the morning of Oct 28, causing an uproar in the neighbourhood.
The animal was later tranquillised with a blowgun and captured.
Security guards at the Bank of Iwate’s head office reported to police at around 6.45am (5.45am, Singapore time) that the cub had entered the carpark of the bank, which is located in a district that includes the prefectural government office and courts.
Police blocked the carpark’s exits and entrances. About 3½ hours later, the bear was tranquillised by a veterinarian with a blowgun and captured.
The bank was open as usual, and no one was injured.
The city’s board of education said that nine elementary and junior high schools in the area asked parents to accompany their children on their way to school.
City government officials are calling on people to stay alert and have increased patrols with information vehicles. The city government has also distributed bear safety information on social media. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
