Bear attack: human body parts found in the Tokyo mountains

Tokyo (ANTARA) – Part of a deceased person’s body was found in a mountainous area in western Tokyo, with tracks believed to have been left by a large animal near the scene. The upper portion of the body was missing when the remains were found on Tuesday around 13:00 local time (11:00 WIB) in the Nippara area of Okutama, beneath a cliff more than 100 metres from a hiking trail, Kyodo News quoted the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday (19 May). In addition to the suspected animal footprints, faeces were reported near the body. A backpack and trekking pole were also found some distance away. The discovery site is known as Nagasawa Ridge, a stretch spanning the border between Okutama and Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture. Since April there have been several reports of bear sightings in the Okutama area. The police are working to identify the victim, whose gender and age are not known, while investigating the possibility of a bear attack or other wildlife.