Students at Ina West Elementary School in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture have participated in a specialized bear‑safety programme that teaches them how to stay safe around wild bears.


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Held every two years, the programme allows pupils to handle real bear fur, skulls and paws while wildlife experts discuss the animals’ behaviour, diet and why they sometimes enter towns. Children also learn that bears can lose their fear of humans after feeding on waste left by people.

The lessons reflect everyday life in Ina, where bear sightings are frequent. In response, the school has put safety measures in place, such as encouraging parents to drive children to school and using special buses when bears are repeatedly spotted nearby.

The initiative comes as northern Japan has recorded at least five fatal bear attacks since April; Nagano Prefecture has not reported any such incidents.

Watch the video for the full story.

Additional sources • AFP

Source link

Exit mobile version