Environment Wildlife encroaches cities amid depopulation

Abandoned farmland, overgrown vegetation, and a lack of human activity have turned once-managed areas into natural feeding grounds. In Hyogo Prefecture, authorities have begun implanting microchips in captured bears before releasing them, allowing officials to track movements and control population growth. Researchers warn that without coordinated action, the situation will worsen. Some estimates suggest Japan's bear population could double within five years. Specialists are calling for stronger management policies, including habitat control, electric fencing, and long-term wildlife monitoring.

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