A tragic incident last August on Mt. Rausu in Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Hokkaido, where a 26-year-old man was killed by a brown bear, has prompted the establishment of new safety protocols by the Ministry of the Environment and local government authorities. During the incident, a bear was reportedly seen stalking hikers just two days prior to the attack, raising concerns about aggressive bear behavior in the region. This has led officials to propose that anytime a bear is confirmed to be stalking people, the trailhead will be closed to protect hikers from potential attacks.

The new protocols specify that if a bear known to be aggressive is captured, the trail closure will be lifted, but if the bear cannot be captured, the trail will remain closed for at least five days. If no solid leads are obtained regarding the bear's whereabouts within that timeframe, the trail will be reopened, although hikers will be urged to exercise caution and avoid the area. Previously, there were no clear guidelines for closing the trail when bear-related incidents occurred, but the new measures aim to provide a structured response to ensure hiker safety.

Additionally, the updated Shiretoko Peninsula Bear Management Plan will now include provisions for handling hiker safety in relation to bear encounters. This represents a significant step toward addressing the issue of human-bear interactions in the region, acknowledging the risks involved in hiking areas frequented by bears and establishing clearer communication measures to provide hikers with essential risk information about bear activity.