Wild bear attacks and ransacks meat counter in Japanese supermarket

(CLO) A bear caused chaos at a supermarket in northern Japan, attacking staff and ransacking the meat section, before being captured two days later.

Police said the bear entered a supermarket in Akita City on the morning of November 30 and attacked a 47-year-old employee. Fortunately, the employee only suffered a minor head injury.

After attacking the employee, the bear continued to rummage through the meat section, damaging some of the store's shelves.

Surveillance cameras captured images of the bear wandering the streets of Akita before entering the supermarket. Photo: Asahi TV

It took two days for authorities to capture the bear, during which time rescuers used a drone to locate the bear as it remained hiding in the store.

Outside, police in protective gear and holding shields entered the supermarket through a plastic-covered entrance. The bear was later found in the storage area and a trap containing a box of honey and apples was set to lure the intruder. The bear was finally captured on December 2.

A spokesman for Akita City Hall confirmed that the bear was later euthanized. It was one of a surge in bear attacks this year, after a record number of attacks last year.

Police enter a supermarket to capture a bear in Akita, Japan, on December 1. Photo: AP

The number of bear attacks and property damage caused by bears in Japan reached an all-time high in the fiscal year ending in March, according to NHK.

Wild bear attacks are becoming an increasingly common problem in Japan, especially in the north, where mountains and lush bush provide ideal habitat.

Experts say climate change is affecting flowering and pollination schedules, disrupting bears' traditional food sources, forcing them out of their natural habitats to search for food in urban areas.

Hoai Phuong (according to CNN, NHK)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/gau-hoang-tan-cong-nhan-vien-luc-tung-quay-thit-trong-sieu-thi-nhat-ban-post323972.html