朝日新聞記者「クマとの共存に向けて・・・」 ハンター「クマと共存なんてできないよ」
An Asahi Shimbun reporter's call for "coexistence" with bears was sharply rejected by a veteran hunter on the ground, who stated, "That's impossible."
This stark contrast between idealism and reality has sparked wide debate online, with many netizens expressing strong empathy for the hunter's pragmatic viewpoint.
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Ecology of Asian Black Bears and Their Appearance in Human Habitations
The Asian black bear (Tsuki-no-waguma), native to Honshu and Shikoku in Japan, is inherently shy and generally avoids human contact. However, in recent years, sightings and damage in human settlements have surged. Several complex factors contribute to this trend. One major reason is the recovery and expansion of their habitat, previously diminished by deforestation, due to an increase in untended "satoyama" (managed woodlands near human settlements), causing their range to overlap with human living spaces. Especially in autumn, during years of poor harvest for hard mast like acorns, bears seeking nutrition descend to villages, expanding their foraging range for fruits like persimmons and chestnuts, and even household waste. Furthermore, global warming has led to shorter hibernation periods, and an increasing number of young bears are migrating in search of new habitats. The food chain, which originally completed itself within the forest, is disrupted by "food" found in human settlements, leading to an increase in "learned bears" that have lost their wariness of humans, thereby escalating the risk of human-bear conflicts. These ecological changes underscore the harsh reality behind hunters' assertion that "coexistence is impossible."
Reward System and Shortage of Hunters
As a countermeasure against the increasing appearance of bears, local governments have established a system to pay rewards (extermination fees) to hunters to encourage bear capture and culling. However, it is often pointed out that these rewards alone do not adequately compensate for the labor and risks faced by an aging population of hunters. Bear capture and culling operations require considerable time, specialized knowledge, and physical strength, including tracking in the mountains, setting and monitoring traps, and sometimes dangerous post-capture processing. Despite this, the number of hunting license holders in Japan is decreasing year by year, with a particularly severe shortage of younger professionals. The average age nationwide has reached the late 60s, and the number of active frontline hunters is limited. This shortage of personnel reduces the capacity for emergency responses aimed at bear population control and preventing human casualties. While the "coexistence" advocated by reporters is a noble ideal, the current reality of insufficient personnel on the ground to actually realize it is one significant reason why hunters unequivocally state, "It's impossible."
Ambiguity of the Term "Coexistence" and Discrepancies in Perception
The term "coexistence with bears" is a very idealistic and appealing concept, but its specific meaning and feasibility vary significantly depending on one's perspective. From an environmental protection standpoint, it means maintaining bear habitats and separating human activities while keeping an appropriate distance. This approach proposes measures such as reviewing forest management practices, installing electric fences, and proper waste management. On the other hand, for residents who actually encounter bears in their communities and face risks to their property and lives, or for hunters involved in culling, "coexistence" carries a different meaning. For them, coexistence primarily assumes human safety, including the pragmatic view that culling for population adjustment may be unavoidable if necessary. A reporter's statement like "towards coexistence" sometimes creates a gap with the earnest desire on the ground to "live safely in human settlements" and can be perceived as "armchair theory." Understanding the polysemy of this term is essential for advancing a substantive discussion.