A total of 39 kilograms (85 pounds) of bread was recently discarded along a roadside in a western Japanese national park, prompting police to investigate the circumstances and responsible parties.
The loaves were placed near crash barriers in Daisen-Oki National Park, Tottori Prefecture, between August 14 and 20. The incident has coincided with the circulation of false images and videos attempting to associate the dumping with a recent surge in bear encounters across Japan.
Koji Iwaihara, director of the Natural Parks Foundation’s Tottori branch, expressed bewilderment upon first hearing the reports, noting the situation raised numerous questions.
Initially, the bread was thought to serve as bait for animal live-streaming cameras; however, no such equipment was discovered. Subsequent assessment led the foundation to believe the bread was left to feed animals, following the discovery of 1.3 kilograms of chicken in the same area.
Bread was also discovered scattered along Hakuto Coast in the same prefecture, though the branding differed from that found in the national park. Authorities confirmed that neither the bread nor the chicken was poisoned.
