Wildlife

Field Notes from Tokyo

Beware of bears: Japan’s 2025 kanji character reflects worries over attacks on humans

Visitors take photos next to a bear warning sign at Shirakawa-go, a popular tourist spot and one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage sites, on November 15.

Taxidermied polar bear, shark bones among wildlife imports approved by Singapore in 2024

This handout photo realeased by Polar Bears International on December 17, 2025, shows a wild female polar bear and her two cubs, one of whom she adopted, at Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, on November 11, 2025. Researchers in northern Canada have observed a rare case of polar bear adoption, capturing video footage of a wild female bear caring for a cub that was not her own. "Cub adoption is relatively rare in polar bears. We've documented 13 cases in our study population over the last 45 years," said Evan Richardson, a scientist with Canada's ministry for environment and climate change. (Photo by HANDOUT / POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL / AFP)

55.4kg of rhino horns seized in South Africa; two Nigerians arrested in joint operation with S’pore

A shipment containing 55.4kg of rhinoceros horns and 26.2kg of lion and tiger bones, skulls and claws was seized in Johannesburg on Dec 1.

Colourless creatures, a marine giant: Wild finds in Singapore that were revealed in 2025

The fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) was re-discovered off the mainland at Labrador Nature Reserve.

Biodegradation unit lightening load of bear hunters in Hokkaido

With the surge of bear sightings in urban areas, there have been times when as many as three bears are killed in a day.

Elusive wild cat last seen in 1995, feared extinct, rediscovered in Thailand

An ecological survey recorded 29 sightings of flat-headed cats at the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand.

Japan releases new signs at tourist spots to warn against feeding or approaching bears

The pictograms can be downloaded from the Japan Tourism Agency website.

Russian strikes cause sunflower oil spill in Ukraine’s Odesa

A dead bird lies covered in sunflower oil on Dec 24, following a spill from a port terminal that was hit by a Russian missile and drone attack in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa.

Thai authorities rescue two lions, three bears found caged at Cambodian casino near border

Thai authorities have rescued five wild animals – two lions and three bears – after finding them caged at Thmor Dar Casino in Cambodia.

Japan taps AI cameras for faster response to bear sightings

The development of this system, which is being introduced nationwide, started after an employee from one of the developing companies was attacked by a bear while working on a power transmission tower in 2019.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.