A captured Asian black bear is released into a reserve/Isehara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209100006/

September 10, 2012

The Asian black bear, captured in an orange field in Kamikasuya, Isehara City.

On the 9th at about 8:00AM, the bear was captured in a wild boar trap set up inside an orange field in Kamikasuya, Isehara City. The man who owns the orchard informed the prefecture officials upon discovering the bear.
 　
According to the Prefectural Nature Preservation Department, the captured bear was a female, with a body length of 131 centimeters (4'3") and weighing 46 kilograms (101 pounds). It appeared to be a young, mature adult between 5 to 10 years of age.

The Asian black bear population inhabiting the Tanzawa mountains is at the extremely low number of 30. Because they're in danger of extinction, at about 5:15 on the same day, prefecture officials released the bear into a nature preserve deep within the Tanzawa mountainous area. On the occasion that a bear once again appears in an area inhabited by humans, it's said that a measure one can take is to spray them with substances they dislike, such as cayenne pepper.

In addition, at the end of August, a male Asian black bear was captured in a trap within the town of Yamakita's forest covered mountains. It was then released back, deep within the forests' depths.


Original text:
ツキノワグマ捕獲、保護区内に放す／伊勢原
2012年9月10日

伊勢原市上粕屋のミカン畑で捕獲されたツキノワグマ

９日午前８時ごろ、伊勢原市上粕屋のミカン畑に設置されたイノシシ捕獲用のわなに、ツキノワグマ１頭がかかっているのを畑の所有者の男性が発見し、県に通報した。

県自然環境保全課によると、捕獲されたのは雌で、体長１３１センチ、体重４６キロ。５～１０歳の若い成獣とみられる。

丹沢のツキノワグマは生息数が約３０頭と非常に少なく、絶滅の恐れがあるため、同日午後５時１５分ごろ、県職員が丹沢山地奥山の鳥獣保護区内に放獣した。その際、再び人里に出没しないよう、クマが嫌がる唐辛子などが入ったスプレーを吹きかける措置を取ったという。

県内では８月下旬にも、山北町内の山林に設置されたわなに雄のツキノワグマ１頭がかかり、山中に放された。