'Ursine terror': plea to improve habitat after spate of bear attacks in Japan

Experts warn of more encounters as animals forced into populated areas to find food

A spate of bear attacks in Japan has prompted calls to improve their natural habitat, as experts warned of more potentially dangerous encounters with the animals as they venture into populated areas in search of food.

Japanese media have reported several incidents of ursine terror" in recent weeks, including an attack in Ishikawa prefecture last weekend that left four people injured, including a man in his 90s and two hunters called to confront the bear.