Captured in Idehara, an Asian black bear has been released into a nature preserve within Tanzawa/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209290012/

September 29, 2012

The captured Asian black bear (Photo provided by the Kanagawa Prefecture Nature Preservation Department)

Within a persimmon field in Koyasu, Isehara City, an Asian black bear was discovered in a cage trap. A man living nearby made the discovery at about 6:00AM of the 29th, alerting the city who then contacted prefecture officials.

According to the Prefecture Nature Preservation Department, the bear was a mature male at a body length of 149 centimeters (58.7 inches) and weight of 86 kilograms (189 pounds). In response to continuous neighborhood eyewitness reports since the middle of September, the cage was installed on the 27th.

30 Asian black bears inhabit the Tanzawa mountains. Because they're in danger of extinction, prefecture officials released the bear into a nature preserve deep within the Tanzawa mountainous area at about 2:45PM of the same day. 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.


Original text:
伊勢原でツキノワグマ捕獲、丹沢の鳥獣保護区に放す／神奈川
2012年9月29日

捕獲されたツキノワグマ（県自然環境保全課提供）

２９日午前６時ごろ、伊勢原市子易の柿畑に設置された捕獲用の檻（おり）に、ツキノワグマ１頭がかかっているのを近くに住む男性が発見し、市を通じて県に連絡した。

県自然環境保全課によると、捕獲されたのは雄で、体長１４９センチ、体重８６キロの成獣。付近では今月中旬からツキノワグマの目撃情報が相次いでいたため、２７日から檻を設置していた。

丹沢のツキノワグマは生息数が約３０頭で絶滅の恐れがあるため、２９日午後２時４５分ごろ、県職員が丹沢山地奥山の鳥獣保護区内に放した。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掛けるなどの措置を取ったという。