Hiker Killed in Bear Attack in Japanese Forest
Last update: August 15, 2025
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Hiker dies in Japan after Bear attack.
A hiker in his 20s was found dead in northern Japan on Friday, a day after being mauled and dragged into the woods by a wild brown bear, local officials said.
The attack occurred Thursday morning as the man was hiking on Mount Rausu in Hokkaido.
According to local media, he tried to fend off the large bear but was overpowered, suffering severe leg injuries before being pulled into the forest.
Rescue teams discovered his body on Friday afternoon and rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nearby, hunters captured and killed a bear, which will undergo DNA testing to confirm whether it was responsible for the fatal attack.
CBI News reports that authorities recovered several personal items near the scene, including a wallet, watch, hat, and what appeared to be tear gas, as well as a torn, blood-stained shirt.
Blood traces were also found on nearby trees and soil.
Recent government data shows Hokkaido’s brown bear population declined in 2023 for the first time in over three decades, with numbers falling to about 11,600 partly due to record hunting levels, which saw 1,804 bears killed between April 2023 and March 2024.
