A wild bear appeared on the Iwate University campus in Morioka City on May 28, 2024, prompting an emergency gun hunt [1, 2].
The incident forced the university to suspend academic operations to ensure the safety of students and staff. This event marked the first time Morioka city officials authorized an emergency gun hunt within the city limits [1].
The bear was first sighted at approximately 6:30 a.m. [1]. Because the animal remained on the university grounds into the afternoon, city officials decided to proceed with a capture operation using a tranquilizer gun [1].
Iwate University took immediate action to protect its community. Classes were cancelled after the second period on May 28 [2]. The university later announced a full-day closure for all classes on May 29, 2024 [3].
Through its official X account, the university said, "Students must never enter the university campus" [3]. Despite the presence of the animal on the grounds, no injuries were reported [2].
Local authorities coordinated the response to mitigate the risk posed by the wildlife. The decision to use a tranquilizer gun reflected a priority to capture the animal without causing fatalities, while still removing the threat from a high-traffic educational environment [1].
“Students must never enter the university campus”
The deployment of an emergency gun hunt for the first time in Morioka suggests an increasing challenge in managing wildlife-human interfaces in urban Japan. The decision to shut down a university campus highlights the high level of perceived risk associated with bear encounters, where public safety protocols override normal academic schedules.
