Hokkaido is home to the Ussuri brown bear, which resembles the grizzly bear.
A fisherman in Japan is feared to have been killed by a bear after a human head was discovered in the area where he went missing. According to Japanese timesToshihiro Nishikawa, 54, was dropped off by a boat at Lake Shumarinai on the northern island of Hokkaido. He was unaccompanied and went fishing there, police said. The further said that an employee of the boat operator later saw a bear nearby and tried to call Mr. Nishikawa, but was unable to reach him.
The city police started a bear hunt and one of the animals was killed, Japanese times said in his report.
Police are now investigating whether the head found is that of Mr. Nishikawa, a resident of Okoppe, also in Hokkaido.
The lake is popular among local fishermen who continue to go there for Sakhalin taimen, a rarely caught fish in Japan, as well as trout and Japanese smelt, according to the outlet.
City officials have issued an emergency warning of a bear attack.
“Please use caution when working on the farm, in the forest or when entering the mountains near the sightings,” the officials said in the statement.
In Japan, the Ussuri brown bear – also known as grizzly bear – is common in Hokkaido.
According to UK based Bear conservationthe Ussuri brown bear is similar to the Kamchatka (in Russia) brown bear, but is generally darker in color with a more elongated skull and less raised forehead.
It is estimated that 6,500 to 10,000 Ussuri brown bears inhabit Japan’s main northern island. They can reach a terrifying height of up to 7ft 6in and weigh over 250kg.