Bear attacks tourists at Japan bus station
TOKYO (AFP) - – A bear was shot dead Saturday after it attacked
nine people, including tourists, at a bus station in a mountainous
area of central Japan, Kyodo news agency reported.
Four men were seriously injured in the attack in Takayama, Gifu
prefecture, Kyodo said, quoting local police. Injuries included
facial bite marks but none were life-threatening.
After the afternoon attack, the 1.3-metre (four-foot) male black
bear fled into the bus terminal building, where it was trapped in a
souvenir shop by employees.
It was later shot dead by hunters, Kyodo said.
An expert on Asian black bears told the agency it was unusual
for them to attack humans and suggested it may have panicked.
The bus station is at the end of a scenic road where buses take
tourists through the spectacular mountain scenery between May and
October.
A company that manages the terminal for the Takayama city
government said it had received reports of bear sightings in the
area this year, but had not taken countermeasures such as setting
up a fence around the facility.