Man Dragged Away by Brown Bear on Mt. Rausu in Hokkaido

 

According to local police, on Thursday, a man in his 20’s was attacked by a brown bear and remains missing on Mt. Rausu in Hokkaido. After being notified by the young man’s companion at about 11:10 am, police launched a helicopter search around Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site. The search continued on Friday. Shortly after 9:30 am, the missing man’s wallet was found, with part of a shirt and a wristwatch found nearby. Police have called the missing man’s phone, which appears to be switched on with no answer. The phone’s GPS is being used to try to locate it and the missing man.

The other man/companion was uninjured and was moved to an observation deck with other hikers. About 70 climbers and hikers were airlifted from the observation deck.

Entry to the mountain has been closed for safety. Shiretoko Nature Foundation’s social media reports brown bears approaching hikers and following people even after bear spray was used. Last month, there was a fatal attack on a newspaper deliveryman by a brown bear in the town of Fukushima in southern Hokkaido.