Ina, Nagano Pref. – As a sensor sounded, scientist Akiko Takii hurried to a bear trap deep in the forests of Nagano Prefecture, where rising nationwide attacks have brought fear and resulted in the culling of thousands of the animals.
“It’s a small bear, I think, about a year-and-a-half old,” Takii said as she peered at the 15-kilogram (33-pound) Asiatic black bear thrashing in the cage. “It must have just parted from Mom.”
Its mother wasn’t around, and Takii took blood and fur samples after her co-researcher tranquilized the young female. The animal was too small to be tagged with a GPS tracker, so she was released.
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