Woman found dead in mountains in north-eastern Japan; bear attack suspected
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A bear caught on camera near Shibecha in Japan's northern Hokkaido prefecture in 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
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AKITA PREFECTURE, Japan – The body of a 79-year-old woman who appears to have been attacked by a bear was found on Nov 3 in a forested area in the mountains of Akita prefecture, north-eastern Japan, local police said.
It is believed that she entered the area to pick mushrooms. The police identified the victim as Ms Kiyo Goto, an unemployed local resident living near the mountains. The severity of her facial injuries suggests that she was mauled by a bear.
The police said Ms Goto had phoned her family, with whom she did not live, on Nov 2 morning to tell them that she was going to the mountains. Her family visited her home but called the police after she failed to return by the evening. Her body was found around 9am on Nov 3.
Owing to the increasing seriousness of bear attacks in the prefecture
Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said last week that the SDF plans to offer logistical support to the local authorities, such as transporting and disposing of culled bears. The SDF is not legally permitted to take part in the shooting of bears. KYODO NEWS
