ISTANBUL

The Japanese government on Friday approved a bill to allow “emergency shootings” of wild bears amid rising incidents of human-animal conflict.

Wildlife authorities reported a record high 219 casualties, including six deaths, from bear attacks between March 2023 and March last year.

The bill will allow municipalities to authorize "emergency shootings" by hunters when dangerous animals enter populated areas, according to the Kyodo News agency.

It added the current version of the law only allows dangerous animals to be shot “when people are in immediate danger.”

The bill will be proposed to the ongoing session of the parliament and, if passed, the government is expected to enforce it by the end of this year.