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Bear complaints disrupt operations at some Japanese local governments

A government survey of 40 prefectural and municipal councils found 17 reported bear related complaints had disrupted their operations this year, including phone calls lasting more than an hour.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

Bear related complaints are straining resources at local governments in Japan as the number of public encounters with bears rises this year, according to Kyodo as cited by SCMP Economy.

In a survey of 40 prefectural and municipal councils, 17 said bear related complaints had disrupted operations, and 10 of those described complaints that took up significant time, including phone calls lasting more than an hour.

Some staff were also dealing with online and email grievances, with five councils saying they received an overwhelming number of website and email complaints. SCMP Economy added that frontline workers faced aggressive residents making repeated demands.

The reporting also said conflicting requests emerged after a captured bear was released, including calls to never kill bears alongside questions about why a bear was not killed, and that one local government worker was targeted by an animal rights activist who posted photos online without permission.

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