In response to a surge in bear attacks against elderly residents in Japan, intimidating robot wolves with menacing red eyes and bared fangs are being deployed.

Originally conceived as robotic scarecrows to deter wild animals from farms, these mechanical devices are now being employed to frighten bears away due to the increasing frequency of such attacks.

The initial use of these “Monster Wolves” was documented in the autumn of 2020, as reported by the president of the manufacturer, Wolf Kamuy.

In recent months, various local governments throughout Japan have begun acquiring their own Monster Wolves, responding to the concerning uptick in bear encounters, the Daily Mail reported.

Officials attribute this rise in incidents to the significant migration of young people from rural farming villages, leaving elderly residents vulnerable and towns largely depopulated.

Over the past six decades, Japan’s northern Hokkaido region, inhabited by formidable brown bears, has witnessed more than 150 bear attacks.

In 2021, it marked one of the deadliest years, with four fatalities and at least ten injuries recorded in the region.

The remainder of Japan is home to the Asian black bear, which is less aggressive but still poses a threat and can be recognized by its distinctive cream crescent chest marking.

Written by staff