Transcription
You know, they have a high learning ability and are intelligent. There are several studies that have investigated the learning ability of Asiatic black bears, which are a type of bear. They can recognize numbers, and they notice if something is behind them or coming from the front. I have an acquaintance whose back is covered in about 70 scars, making them look like they've been playing blackjack. Bears can sleep for one or two months and still stand up and run. They leave traces of their existence. That's right. And among those, the one thing you absolutely must not approach is real estate investment. If you want to learn about real estate investment, it's Rakumachi. Hello everyone watching the Rakumachi Channel. I'm Maria, a mountaineering YouTuber. I usually post videos of my mountain climbs on YouTube. In Japan, I've climbed the Jandarme in the Northern Alps, and overseas, I've climbed Mont Blanc at 4,700 meters alone. I'm also starting to climb mountains overseas at 5,000 meters and challenging myself in various places. Now, what do you all think about the bears that have been in the news lately? This time, we'll be speaking with this person on the theme of why bears are leaving the mountains. He is Professor Koji Yamazaki from Tokyo University of Agriculture. Thank you for having me. I'll introduce Professor Yamazaki's profile. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Tokyo University of Agriculture, he worked as a chief curator at the Ibaraki Nature Museum and is currently an associate professor at the Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture. His specialties are zoology and conservation biology. How long have you been researching bears? Well, it's been quite a long time before I knew it. I've been researching them since around 1990, in the early part of the decade. So, how many years is that? Over 30 years, I guess. Yes. One reason is that I want to contribute to their management and conservation, but honestly, bears are such interesting creatures that I want to get closer to their way of life. The image of bears, not just for Japanese people, is polarized. They are seen as very cute and approachable, like teddy bears or Disney characters. On the other hand, they are portrayed as ferocious animals that attack people, like in movies. In that sense, are you somewhere in the middle, Maria? Yes. I think it's partly because I've never encountered a bear, but I don't really think about them much when I'm climbing mountains. I just think they're probably somewhere out there. Rather than being scared, I have a strong image of them as just one type of animal living in nature. And it's quite unusual that you haven't encountered one while climbing mountains, isn't it? Well, I'd like to get straight to the topic, but Ochi is currently running a campaign, so please allow me a brief announcement. The Ochi app is holding a campaign where you can win an Amazon gift card worth a total of 1 million yen, with 550 winners. To participate, simply install the Rakumachi app and enter from the application. Please check the description for details. Now, let's get to the main topic. First, I'd like to ask about the recent bear incidents. Recently, some climbers around me have seen bears near mountain huts, and it feels like the danger is increasing. What kind of incidents are happening recently? I think what we're talking about here are incidents in the mountains. Yes. Yes. First of all, as a premise, bears in the mountains are quite large and are in their natural habitat, their home. When they descend to villages, which we'll discuss later, they are in an unfamiliar environment, so they are in a state of tension. However, bears in the mountains are quiet animals, so there aren't many major accidents, looking back at the past. Yes. Do you remember any recent accidents? The most memorable recent incident was the one that happened in Rausu. Yes. It was on the road down from Rausu this year. A climber was attacked by a bear and died. However, I believe it's been decades since a human-bear incident occurred in the wilderness. So, there are almost no human-bear incidents in the mountains. Yes. So, does that mean there's no potential danger? You've probably heard about bears appearing at campsites or mountain huts, rummaging through backpacks. Yes. That's because bears are taking advantage of climbers' inadequate food management and carelessness. However, so far, there haven't been any major accidents. But, recently, in the Northern Alps, bears have been approaching climbers' backpacks, targeting the food inside. Or, a little while ago, at a campsite in Kamikochi, a woman sleeping in her tent was dragged away with her food by a bear. So, the accidents are more or less like that, and they tend to be due to climbers' carelessness. Carelessness. So, I think it might still be possible to prevent them if people pay attention after watching programs like this. Yes. Yes. Bears that don't hibernate are being featured in the media, but when I climbed in the snowy mountains of Hokkaido around March this year, I was told to be careful even during the snowy season because bears aren't hibernating this year. Is it true that the number of bears not hibernating is increasing? The media is reporting quite irresponsibly. Yes. Yes. From what I see, they are not hibernating. They will hibernate. However, if there's food, bears in zoos don't hibernate, right? Yes. Hibernation is a response to food availability, not to cold. So, that's one aspect, but in Japan, bears can't get enough calories to sustain themselves through the winter in most places. So, even if their hibernation is delayed, they will hibernate. Yes. Ah, it's just delayed. However, there's one thing to be careful about: bears change their dens during hibernation. Yes. Even when I track their movements with GPS collars, for reasons I don't understand, they wake up during hibernation, move around quite a bit, and then go back into their dens. Footprints are left behind, so I wonder if people see those and think they're still in the same place. They're not always in the same place. Yes. Talking about bear hibernation could take an hour. They have very peculiar physiological functions. If humans slept for a month, they wouldn't be able to stand up. Their muscles would weaken, and they wouldn't be able to walk. Ah, yes. Yes. But bears can stand up and run in an instant even after sleeping for one or two months. Yes. Ah, that's strange, when you think about it. Yes. They have a unique energy circulation system, and there are even research results showing that their muscles increase during hibernation. Another thing is that recently, many bears have been killed around villages. Ah. That's called capture. And then, from the perspective of those who kill them, they might kill the mother but let the small cubs go because they feel sorry for them. That's not true kindness, but sometimes young cubs wander around in winter without hibernating. That might be another reason why bears aren't hibernating. Yes. How many bear incidents actually occur? The thing we worry about most is human injury. Yes. Being bitten or scratched by a bear and getting injured or dying. But what other kinds of damage are there? They damage fields. Yes. Agricultural crops. And damage to livestock. Recently, chicken coops have been attacked. Yes. And also, although not many people see it, forest damage is unfortunately increasing. Yes. It's on an upward trend. Yes. This is in terms of human damage, and it's a statistic covering about 40 years. This is the total number of human-bear incidents, divided into black bears and brown bears. For black bears, it's about 2,300 people in total, and for brown bears, it's a little over 70. Of those, the number of deaths for black bears is about 40, and for brown bears, it's about 20. This indicates the proportion of deaths among those attacked. For black bears, even if attacked, they don't die as often, only a few percent. So, in the mountains of Honshu, even if you are attacked by a black bear, the survival rate is high. However, for brown bears, according to this statistic, it's about 30%. Yes. But they often die. This means that if you encounter one, you either die or suffer severe injuries. However, some might think it's okay because there are no deaths. But it's still a problem because there is damage. That's right. You often hear in the news, "They were lucky to escape with their lives." And when you see photos of those who were lucky, their eyes might be gouged out, their noses might be torn off, or the skin on their heads might be missing. Another important point is that for black bears, there have been 8 years where the number of incidents exceeded 100 annually. For brown bears, the estimated population is currently around 12,000, so the number is smaller. However, there have still been 7 years where there were 4 or more incidents. So, I can understand why the general public feels anxious. People who have accidents while mountaineering, like the Rausu incident, I believe, are cases where the bear cannot sense the human, meaning that when the bear wants to escape, the human approaches without giving it any room, which inevitably leads to an accident. But accidents generally only happen in such situations. I also often run down mountains, and I think there are more and more people doing trail running. Such people need to be careful. They do. If you're trail running, it's better not to be alone. Ah. With a few people. I know it's difficult because you usually go alone. After all, they will consider whether it's more advantageous to eliminate you or to escape. So, two people are less likely to be a problem than one, and three people are less likely than two. Of course, a mother bear with cubs will exert immense strength, so it's impossible. So, if you're running, you should do it that way. Or avoid going alone. If you are attacked, you should consider it your own responsibility. Yes. [Laughter] In the Rausu incident, I heard that one of the two climbers was attacked. Yes. First of all, I heard that the two people were far apart. So, from the bear's perspective, it probably only saw one person, the one it attacked. The other person heard the scream and returned to help. But while trying to help, they were dragged away by the bear. Normally, defensive attacks don't involve dragging. It's only when they're eating prey. Ah. Yes. So, I don't know why it was dragged away, but when the body was discovered, it was severely damaged, so I believe it was eaten. So, perhaps the mother bear's instinct switched from protecting her cubs to seeing them as prey. I don't know for sure, but. Yes. Win an Amazon gift card worth 1 million yen in total. 550 winners will receive up to 10,000 yen each. Apply from the Ochi app until December 8th. What types of bears inhabit Japan's mountains? Yes. That's a very important question. As you can see on the screen, Japan is made up of four very large islands. Bears cannot live in small places like the Izu Islands or Shikoku. Ah. Why is that? Because they need a very large territory for their livelihood. So, they can't live on islands. Currently, in Japan, we have brown bears in Hokkaido. Brown bears are also called grizzly bears or Kodiak bears in North America, and they are the same species. In Honshu and Kyushu, we have Asiatic black bears, which are more of a southern species. They live in southern regions, but historically, they lived in all of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. However, they have become extinct in Kyushu. Regional extinction. The last bear was caught in the 1940s, and there have been none since. In Shikoku, as you can see on the orange part of the map, they only appear in a small area. Have you climbed Mt. Tsurugi? Ah, yes, I have. There are only about 30 bears in the high-altitude areas of Mt. Tsurugi. Yes. Therefore, Asiatic black bears are found in a wide range of Honshu. This is the current situation. So, there are two types of bears in Japan: brown bears in Hokkaido and Asiatic black bears mainly in Honshu. The distribution of bears in Japan, both brown and black, has been expanding over the past few decades. Basically, wherever there are forests, there are bears. Yes. Is there a possibility that they will spread further? If they spread further, they might go to areas where there are no bears now, like Osaka, or the bear habitats in Fukushima. Ah. They won't come to Boso anymore, but perhaps to the Izu Peninsula. Yes. Are there any mountains with particularly many bears? Generally speaking, there are fewer bears in western Japan. Yes. And in eastern Japan, especially Tohoku and Hokuriku. And around Nagano Prefecture in central Japan. There are many bears. This is because the forests are rich, and historically, axes haven't penetrated very deep into the mountains. If you've climbed mountains in western Japan, you'll probably notice that many of the forests are poor and weak. Yes. That's because people have cut down trees extensively for things like charcoal and for their livelihoods. Yes. And since there's not much snow, the animals can't be protected. On the other hand, in Tohoku and Hokuriku, there's snow and the mountains are deep, so they were places where bears could survive in large numbers. That's why there are still many bears in Tohoku and Hokuriku, and thus more human-bear problems, including human injuries. You mentioned that bears need a wide area. Is it okay for their territories to overlap? For each bear, they live without their territories overlapping. This is often reported in the news lately, but bears don't have territories. Ah, really? Yes. For example, if there are a few persimmon trees and chestnut trees, 5 or 10 bears will gather there. Because they don't have territories, they can tolerate other individuals. Ah, I see. What do they usually eat? They are omnivores. Yes. In terms of classification, they are carnivores. So, their digestive organs are not like those of herbivores, meaning they cannot break down cell walls like cellulose. However, in Asiatic black bears, over 90% of their diet is plant-based, such as young leaves and flowers. Also, they eat grasses and herbs from the ground. And as they grow, they eat fruits like cherries and berries. In the fall, they enter the "hoarding" period, the pre-hibernation binge-eating period, and eat acorns, which are rich in carbohydrates and fats. Yes. Yes. They eat acorns. Ah, they can eat quite a lot, can't they? They can eat things that humans can't. Yes. They eat anything. Yes. I had the impression that they come down to villages because there's nothing to eat in the mountains, but it seems they eat a variety of things in the mountains. Yes. However, although bears utilize a wide variety of plants, from spring to summer, they eat many different types of food, but the quantity is small. Ah. So, even if they eat a lot, their energy doesn't recover much. They remain thin. And by late August, they are at their lowest weight of the year. Yes. So, they prefer not to move. If they move, they expend energy. So, they want to live on basal metabolism alone. It's a difficult time. On the other hand, in autumn, they hoard food, as I mentioned, and increase their weight by 40% or 50%. Then, they enter hibernation from November to December. During hibernation, they don't eat, drink, or excrete. They use all the body fat they've stored. However, they don't use it all up by the time they emerge in March or April. It remains, and they slowly use it from spring to summer. That's why they are at their weakest in August. So, they use the fat stored in autumn throughout the year. Considering that, if they can't eat acorns, which are rich in fat and carbohydrates, they can't get through the year well. So, if there's no food in the fall, they expand their range. Yes. Yes. They go to places they haven't been before to find food. They come down to eat during the hoarding period. Yes. In spring and summer, they tend to live normally in the mountains. Yes. And when autumn comes, if it's really bad, they think, "This is serious." Yes. They get really hungry. Yes. Yes. And then they start moving. I've been mountaineering for about 10 years, and I've noticed changes in the mountains. If I hadn't gone to Tohoku, I wouldn't have carried bear spray. But this year, I've felt a bit like I should be more careful. How do changes in the mountain environment actually affect bear behavior? Yes. You have 10 years of mountaineering experience, Maria. Do you repeat visits to the same places within those 10 years? I've been to places like Yatsugatake multiple times. Yes. The environment probably hasn't changed within that 10-year timeframe. The parts that are changing the environment and affecting bears are not actually in the mountains that hikers enjoy, but in the areas around the mountains. In the past, people didn't have electricity to cook, right? Yes. What did they use? Wood. Wood. Yes. That's right. Sometimes they would burn it directly, and sometimes they would make charcoal. Mountain trees were very important for people's lives. So, if you look at old photos or paintings of Japanese mountains, they are bare. There are no trees. Really none. Yes. Bare and desolate. Then, after the war, what happened? After the war, houses were burned down, right? To rebuild the burned houses, the government implemented a policy of planting cedar and cypress trees in the mountains. This was for timber supply. This continued until around 1970. However, since the 1970s, about 50 years ago, the mountains haven't changed much. Rather, people who lived at the foot of the mountains have gotten older, or their numbers have decreased. We call them depopulated villages or disappearing villages. Places where people used to live are returning to forests. Yes. Bears that were confined to the mountains were able to expand into areas where people are no longer living. That's the change in the mountain environment. Areas where bears can live are increasing in human-inhabited areas. Yes. They are spreading further. And there's no prospect of this situation improving. Yes. Bear incidents will only increase. But that's not a pleasant story. Even if the human population decreases, we must devise ways to prevent it. Yes. So, I think it's important to try various things. Yes. Are there any reasons why bears come down to human settlements? Ah, yes. One is food. Yes. We discussed earlier how important autumn food sources are. Yes. And periodically, there are years when acorns don't bear fruit in the fall. This is due to the plants' circumstances. In such cases, bears have to leave their usual areas and try hard to find something. Bears have an incredibly large range. It can be 200 or 300 square kilometers. They go even further than that. They travel 40 or 50 kilometers. And a part of that range happens to be in places that are inconvenient for humans. But the bears that come out aren't necessarily looking for food from humans. They walk in a zigzag pattern over a wide area. And when they find something like crops or persimmon trees, they think, "This is good," and become fixated on it. They have a very high learning ability and are intelligent. Not the Asiatic black bear, but studies have been conducted on the intelligence, or rather, learning ability, of American black bears. They can even recognize numbers. They seem to be able to do that. So, they remember many things. It's like humans; once they learn an easier life, they don't want to live a harsh life. They learn that eating delicious food in villages is better than eating meagerly in the mountains. It's very difficult to force them to change that. Ah, I've heard that bears that attack livestock learn to only eat livestock. Yes. That happened in a certain region of Hokkaido, where they specialized in attacking only cattle and took down 60 or 70 of them. In Hokkaido, the deer population has become too large, so they are controlling the population. They can't use all the deer they take, so they bury them in pits. Yes. Bears then started frequenting these carcass sites and learned to eat meat. So, when they learn this, especially young bears, they have very little experience and are not with their mothers, so they choose the easier life. Yes. Does the increase in population contribute to bears coming down from the mountains? Yes. First, let me talk about the overall population increase. What's shown here is an estimate for Hokkaido. This is a model-based estimate, with the latest estimate being for 2022. The central estimate, with a confidence interval, is around 12,000. About 30 years ago, it was 5,200. So, it has more than doubled in 30 years. So, the total number has increased. On the other hand, there is no reliable estimate for the entire Honshu region for Asiatic black bears. Yes. However, it is certain that they are increasing. Are there any reasons for this increase? Yes. As I mentioned earlier, humans are increasingly withdrawing from or no longer utilizing the mountains. So, the area that bears can utilize has simply increased. Another point is that bears were quite heavily hunted before. Yes. Many people hunted them, either as a resource or as a hobby. Do you know what hunting associations are? Yes. The average age of members of hunting associations, which are organizations for hunting enthusiasts, is probably 60 or 70. Despite the increase in public policy environments favorable to bears, the number of hunters has decreased. So, in other words, there's no reason for them to decrease. There's a concept called natural growth rate, which is how much bears increase if left alone. Yes. We calculate that too, and it's generally around 10% to 15%. So, if there are 100 bears, the next year there will be 110 or 115. And then, from 115, it increases by another 15%, so in about 4 or 5 years, it increases significantly. It increases a lot. So, it's difficult to reduce the bear population without an increase in hunters, isn't it? Yes. You have an image of hunters carrying rifles, right? Yes. Rifles, or heavy machinery. In Japan, regulations from the Firearms and Ammunition Control Law are very strict. If you want to carry a shotgun or a rifle, there are very high hurdles, and young people probably wouldn't want to do it. [Laughter] Yes. I'm thinking of getting a hunting license next year and looked into it. If you want to hunt, you have to pay taxes in that region. And if I wanted to hunt in Nagano, I'd have to pay taxes there too. There are various things like that, and I realized that hunting in various places is quite difficult. Yes. I actually have a hunting license and a gun. Yes. The tax for registering a gun in Japan is actually low. But Ah, is that so? You pay about 17,000 or 8,000 yen per prefecture. Ah, yes. During the hunting season, you can hunt any large game animal that is a hunting target. Yes. Yes. Both wild animals and birds. Yes. It's different overseas; you have to register as a hunter and then buy a license for each animal. So, in that sense, it might seem expensive, but it's actually cheap. So, it's cheap compared to overseas. Ah, I see. Cheap. If you often research real estate investment, then Rakumachi's rental management map. Important real estate investment data is visible at a glance and easy to operate. Rakumachi's rental management map. As a mountaineer myself, I'm most concerned about what precautions to take when encountering a bear in the mountains and what to do to avoid encountering them. Yes. The most important principle is not about what to do when you encounter one, but to pay maximum attention to avoid encountering one. Yes. What happens after you meet is, to a large extent, up to luck. Ah. It's better to be careful not to meet them than to worry about such things. I enter the mountains for research, so I deliberately approach bears. Yes. So, bears often chase me. But even then, if you suddenly encounter one, you can't react calmly. Being chased. [Laughter] Like noticing one is behind you, or running towards you from the front. Of course, I carry bear spray, but even if I use it, ordinary people can't do much effectively. So, let's talk about how to avoid them. Before climbing a mountain, in national or quasi-national parks, there are usually visitor centers, like environmental offices. At these places, they always have information on recent bear sightings on the mountain maps. So, first, gather information before starting your climb. Also, prefectural governments often have bear sighting maps, where they distribute information about bear sightings online. So, it's good to check those. Asking people in the mountains is also good, although you might not like staying at mountain lodges. [Laughter] No, I actually like staying at mountain lodges. I prefer tents, though. Yes. But it's good to ask them then. Or ask other climbers you meet. And if bears are frequently seen in a certain area, or if they are fixated on a place because there are chestnut trees or persimmon trees, you should detour around it, or in some cases, it's okay to choose to give up. But from then on, it's your own responsibility. I have no intention of stopping you from going if you still choose to go. Yes. [Laughter] That's right. Furthermore, when walking in the mountains, unlike bears in villages, bears in the mountains are relatively relaxed. If the bear notices humans first, they usually run away. Ah. Yes. So, make noise, walk in groups. What I often do is clap my hands. That's enough. And when is that? When it's very windy, or when it's raining heavily, or when you're running, it's unavoidable, but when the ambient noise is high, both bears and humans can't notice each other easily, so be careful then. Or ring bells at intervals. Some people say that bells are effective. Yes. Some climbers say that bear bells are useless, or that ringing them actually attracts bears. I'm not sure which is correct. It might be ineffective in some cases. Yes. Bears might not notice the sound of bells, or some bears might not care about them. But there are definitely bears that are affected. Yes. So, if you're worried, you should bring one. It's better to ring it than not to ring it. And the idea that ringing bells attracts bears. Yes. I don't think bells do that. For example, in Tohoku, some hunters hang their lunch bags in trees while hunting pheasants and play a radio. Then, bears learn that if they go to where the radio is playing, there will be lunch. Ah. There's a rumor about that. Yes. Or, in overseas examples, sheep with bells might attract bears if they become prey. I think these things are probably mixed up. [Laughter] I've never heard of bears coming to Japan because of bells, so you should bring one. Yes. That's right. In the mountains, if you find this, can you tell that there are bears there? Yes. There are many traces that bears leave behind for their survival. Yes. And among them, the ones you absolutely must not approach are animal carcasses, like deer or chamois. They are covered with fallen leaves or soil. They hide food they can't eat in one go. They hide it, but it's not hidden. Yes. The animal is visible, but. But for the bear, it's their food, and they are asserting ownership. And since they can't eat it all in one day, they spend time resting nearby. Ah. And if you approach them, you will be attacked. This is not a defensive attack, but an attack to protect their food, so the attack will be quite strong. So, if you find something like that, never approach it. Yes. Also, recently, when you enter the mountains, you often see nets for deer. Yes. Sometimes, you might find deer with their antlers or horns entangled and dead. You should not approach those either. Because there might be a bear nearby. Ah, that's because they notice that there's a dead deer there and approach it. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Or if part of the deer is damaged, meaning it has been eaten, then you should definitely not go there. Yes. Bears can smell such carcasses from 3 or 4 kilometers away. There was actually a case in the Northern Alps where a bear came directly from 3.3 kilometers away to eat a chamois carcass. The skull is easy to identify. It's long. And it's filled with olfactory tissue, which means the olfactory organs are well-developed. Yes. Also, bear droppings and claw marks. When they are on trees that bear fruits that bears like. Yes. You should also not approach them. Because there is a high possibility that bears are still in that forest. Yes. If you are attacked by a bear, what should you do? Yes. Let's talk about the mountains. Bears around villages have different feelings, but bears in the mountains are generally afraid of humans. Yes. So, it's important not to scare them further. Not to stimulate them. Screaming and running away will make them chase you, so it's better to avoid that. Ah. Ah, so it's better not to shout "Whoa!" There are two patterns. Sometimes in the news, you see people shouting at bears, hitting them with sticks, or there are many strange AI-generated videos, so you shouldn't believe them. However, there have been cases where people have repelled bears by doing such things. Yes. But it's an action that involves immense risk. Ah. People who succeed can boast about their bravery. But those who don't succeed end up in a state of "lucky to be alive, but..." This is because you are interacting with the bear and doing something. You receive punches from the bear. Yes. So, even if you're alive, you might be blind or unable to smell. So, what should you do? Yes. One is that bear spray is effective if used properly. I've used it many times. Yes. Bears flee down slopes as if rolling. It's that painful. I've also been sprayed. With a bear. Yes. [Laughter] I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe, and it wasn't wind, but I was sprayed with it. Just before we were about to be attacked, someone sprayed me and the bear. Then I washed my eyes with bottled tea. It took about an hour, but I could see again. It works quite powerfully. It really works. It's effective, so it costs money, about 10,000 yen in Japan, and about 20,000 yen overseas. But if you train yourself properly on how to use it beforehand, and carry it in an accessible place, it is effective. Yes. So, where should you keep it? On your waist, or on the chest strap of your backpack? Yes. Either is fine. If your dominant hand is right, you can attach it to the left side of your shoulder strap, or to the left side of your hip belt. Yes. So that you can quickly pull it out. Yes. I think it's better to press the trigger and spray. The way it sprays is completely different from what you imagine. However, bears don't always come from the front. Yes. Yes. There are also cases where you suddenly realize you're being attacked. I haven't experienced that, but you'll be knocked down. When a bear attacks, it charges with a very low posture, avoiding your head. Yes. It charges with a "whoa!" and then rears up at the end to aim for your face. At that point, there are two options. As we discussed earlier, option A is to fight, and option B is to take a defensive posture. For ordinary people, it's definitely better to take a defensive posture and try to avoid serious injury to your face and head. Yes. If you hug your head like that, will the bear eventually give up? I haven't been attacked myself, but several researchers I know have been attacked. Yes. I don't know the exact duration of the attack, but it was a matter of seconds. Yes. They bite or scratch for a few seconds. Then they suddenly disappear. Ah. And when they disappear, you think it's over and move, but they might come back and bite you again. [Laughter] Ah, I see. It's better to stay still for a while. Yes. My acquaintance's back was covered in about 70 scars, making them look like they've been playing blackjack. Yes. But that person was lying face down, so their face wasn't injured. The back could be sewn up. Yes. They seemed to think that was okay. The instances of being dragged away and eaten are truly rare, aren't they? I think they are rare. If you are dragged away, you have to resist. Ah. Yes. Because if you just stay still, you'll be eaten. It's not funny, but if you're dragged away, you should resist by kicking or punching. Yes. You should try your best. Yes. That's an abnormal situation. Yes. Yes. They might grab you and throw you around while you're down. Yes. So, if you feel like you're being dragged, you should resist. It's difficult, though, in such a situation. Basically, lie face down. Yes. We've heard various things so far, but Professor Yamazaki, do you have any advice for viewers on what they should be careful about in the future? Yes. I want to convey this to everyone, without singling anyone out: bears can be anywhere in Honshu or Hokkaido where there are forests. So, please don't be complacent or overconfident. Please live with the assumption that bears might appear. This includes how you dispose of garbage, picking persimmons or chestnuts, or jogging or walking at night in areas where bears might appear, or walking your dog. Dogs can attract bears. Ah, is that so? I thought it was okay if you had a dog. On the contrary, if it's a trained dog, it will work properly. Yes. But 99.9% of dogs will just get attacked by bears. Yes. So, I think you should avoid it. Yes. Regarding the mountains that Maria often visits, mountains are originally the habitat of bears. Bears came to Japan tens of thousands of years ago. On the other hand, humans came to Japan about 30,000 years ago. So, they are much later arrivals. So, given the current situation, there are calls to consider bears ferocious, evil, and to exterminate them all. I think that's a very unfortunate statement. Bears are part of the mountain ecosystem. I hope that people who climb mountains, in particular, will think about how to coexist with them. Yes. We are guests in their home, so we will climb with respect. Yes. That's a good idea. [Laughter] Thank you very much for today, Professor Yamazaki. Yes. Thank you very much as well.