Authorities in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, captured a wild black bear on Tuesday that had been roaming the streets for four days. City officials closed all 94 public schools and urged residents to stay indoors after the bear was first spotted on Saturday evening.

The bear, estimated to weigh around 100 kilograms (220 pounds), triggered dozens of sightings near a library, a shopping arcade, a university campus, and a market, keeping the city of half a million on edge. A massive search operation involving helicopters, police, hunters, and city officials was launched.

The bear resurfaced near a private home on Tuesday. Police cordoned off the area, and the animal was shot with a tranquilizer gun, loaded onto a truck, and driven away. An official told Reuters the city has yet to decide its fate. Schools will remain closed Wednesday due to reports of a possible second bear.

Japan has seen a surge in bear attacks. A record 13 people were killed by bears last year, according to the Environment Ministry. The government set up a special task force this year. The bear population has tripled since 2012 to an estimated 57,800, partly due to a decline in hunting.

Climate change is believed to affect the supply of acorns and beechnuts, driving bears to seek food in human-populated areas. In a separate incident, a black bear attack in a residential area of Fukushima last week left at least four people injured; that bear remains at large.

Source: www.dw.com