Fisherman reportedly attacked by bear in Japan; head found in the area

Authorities in Hokkaido City, Japan, are searching for the remains of a fisherman named Toshihiro Nishikawa, 54, who disappeared at a spot on Lake Shumarinai in Horokanai last Sunday, May 14.
The information prompted the city office to launch a bear hunting operation and a member of the group killed one on Monday afternoon, according to a city official. A human head was also discovered during the operation. Police said they are investigating whether it was Nishikawa, a resident of Okoppe, also on Japan's northernmost main island.
According to police, a boat left Nishikawa, to fish alone at a spot on Lake Shumarinai in Horokanai early Sunday morning. Later, an employee of the boat operator saw a bear nearby with waders hanging from its mouth and tried to call Nishikawa, but was unable to reach him.
The fisherman was allegedly attacked by a bear, after which authorities located a human head in the same area of the attack on Monday afternoon.
It is worth mentioning that the lake, located in northern Hokkaido, is very popular with fishermen trying to catch Sakhalin tahimen, a fish that is rarely caught in Japan, as well as trout and Japanese smelt. Rescue work continues to locate the remains of the man.
An increase in bear attacks
NHK's international radio service noted that bear sightings have been on the rise this 2023. Hokkaido, according to 'South China Morning Post' is the most common place where humans can come face to face with these animals.
As of last Thursday, 339 reports had been filed, a 40-fold increase compared to cases reported during the same period last year. At least two people have been killed so far this year as a result of attacks by this species, reported the local media cited above.
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