Overview

• A women's golf tournament in Ishikawa, Japan, was stopped after a bear was spotted on the course.
• Tournament organizers prioritized safety, canceling the event to protect players and spectators.
• Reina Maeda, 19, was named champion after two completed rounds before the disruption.
• Bear encounters in Japan have reached record levels, with 219 attacks and six deaths reported in the year leading up to April 2024.
• Climate change and habitat shifts are driving bears into urban areas, prompting new Japanese laws allowing hunters to address safety risks in populated regions.