"Eyes Flash When Bears Approach"... Soaring Demand for 'Wolf Robot' in Japan

Orders for 'Monster Wolf' Surge
Waiting Period of 2 to 3 Months for Installation

In Japan, where frequent appearances of wild bears in residential areas have led to ongoing injuries and fatalities, the animal-repelling wolf robot known as the 'Monster Wolf' is gaining significant popularity.

"Installation Requests Pouring In"... 'Wolf Robot' Threatens Wild Animals

'Monster Wolf' Installation Case. Ohta Seiki Company Website

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other outlets on May 13, the machine parts processing company Ohta Seiki announced that orders for the 'Monster Wolf' have more than tripled this year compared to previous years.

This robot is equipped with an infrared sensor that detects the approach of animals, automatically activating its warning system. When wild animals such as bears come close, it randomly emits over 50 types of loud noises at the level of a construction site, and powerfully flashes high-performance LED lights installed in its eyes to scare them away.

The company initially began developing the robot in 2016 to prevent crop damage caused by deer and similar animals, and has shipped more than 380 units to date. However, demand has surged recently as bears have begun appearing not only in residential areas but also near urban centers. As a result, there is now such a backlog that it takes two to three months from ordering to actual installation.

President Yuji Ohta stated, "Previously, most orders came from farms, but recently, requests have also been coming in from construction sites and golf courses," adding, "This shows just how much bears are encroaching into areas where people live."

Japan Sets All-Time Record for Bear Sightings Last Year

Bear. Pixabay

In fact, there have been a series of bear-related incidents across Japan. On May 5, in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a 48-year-old man working alone in a rice field was attacked by a bear about 1 meter long, suffering serious injuries to his face and arms. It was reported that, despite bleeding, he drove himself to a nearby pharmacy for help.

On the same day, at JR Tadotsu Station in Kagawa Prefecture, there was also an accidental discharge of bear-repellent spray. The spray, which was in the backpack pocket of a 43-year-old man waiting for a train, was released when it was pressed during a collision with another passenger. As a result, eight passengers complained of pain in their eyes and lips and received emergency treatment at the scene, and train operations were delayed for about 34 minutes.

Meanwhile, according to data compiled by the Japanese government, the number of bear sightings in fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) reached 50,776, the highest on record. This is more than double the previous high of 24,348 cases in fiscal year 2023. By region, Akita Prefecture recorded the most with 13,592 cases, followed by Iwate Prefecture (9,739 cases) and Miyagi Prefecture (3,559 cases). The number of bears captured also nearly tripled from the previous year to 14,720, with 14,601 of them being killed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.