Japanese school teaches children how to stay safe around wild bears

Published on 11/07/2026 - 6:20 GMT+2

Children at Ina West Elementary School in Japan's Nagano Prefecture have taken part in a special bear awareness programme designed to teach them how to stay safe around wild bears.

Held every two years, the lessons allow pupils to examine real bear fur, skulls and paws while wildlife experts explain the animals' behaviour, diet and the reasons they sometimes venture into towns. Students also learn that bears can lose their fear of people after feeding on human waste.

The programme reflects daily life in Ina, where bear sightings are common. The school has safety measures in place, including asking parents to drive children to school and using special buses when bears are repeatedly spotted nearby.

The lessons come as bear attacks have killed at least five people in northern Japan since April, although no fatalities have been reported in Nagano Prefecture.

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