Japan Tests Barking “Hunting Drones” to Deter Rising Bear Encounters
Local farmers welcome the measure, noting that the threat of bears is a constant concern. Warning signs now line nearby hiking trails, and tourists can hear the drone’s barking echo through the valley
Japan has begun using barking, firecracker-equipped drones to keep bears away from orchards and tourist areas as sightings and attacks surge across the country
In Hida city, Gifu Prefecture, a pink, googly-eyed 3-foot-wide “Hunting Drone” developed by Aero Japan flies over orchards blasting loud dog barks and firing small firecrackers to scare off bears that have been raiding apple and peach farms
Officials say bear encounters in the area have risen nearly eight-fold this autumn
Local farmers welcome the measure, noting that the threat of bears is a constant concern. Warning signs now line nearby hiking trails, and tourists can hear the drone’s barking echo through the valley
Japan has recorded a record 220 bear-related injuries since April, with 13 deaths many occurring during peak foraging season as bears seek food before hibernation
While most attacks occur in remote towns, a recent incident involving a Spanish tourist in Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village, escalated urgency around the issue
As a result, authorities have increased interventions: trapping bears using honey-laced bait, removing fruit trees that attract wildlife, and advising visitors to walk in groups, avoid certain areas after dark, and use bear bells now also issued to local schoolchildren
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Experts attribute the rising encounters to a combination of climate change reducing natural food supplies, declining rural populations, and a surge in bear numbers due to reduced hunting
In northern Japan, conditions have worsened enough that the army was recently deployed to support bear-culling operations
Despite the challenges, local officials say they are committed to preventing further attacks—and innovative tools like barking drones may become increasingly common in the effort to coexist with Japan’s growing bear population
Writer : Mweru Mbugua
