The hiker’s recovered GPS watch shows he veered off the trail in Hokkaido at about 11:00 a.m. on August 14 and that his heart stopped roughly 100–130 metres from the path. The device remained at that location overnight and moved again around 9:00 a.m. the next day, suggesting a bear may have returned and dragged the body. A bear with two cubs was later seen carrying the victim and all three animals were killed; investigators found traces of the man and limited parental identification due to severe injuries.
Hiker’s GPS Watch Reveals Final Movements After Fatal Hokkaido Bear Attack
Bears have killed a record 13 people in Japan this year (Caroline GARDIN)(Caroline GARDIN/AFPTV/AFP)
The GPS watch worn by a Japanese hiker killed in Hokkaido has provided a chilling record of his final movements, and indicates the animal may have returned to the scene the following morning, the Asahi Shimbun reported.
The device, which logs routes via satellite and records heart rate, was recovered after the fatal attack on August 14. Data from the watch showed the wearer veered off the marked trail at about 11:00 a.m. and descended a forested slope. In an area of dense brush the logged route repeatedly circled and passed over the same spot.
The watch’s heart-rate data indicated the man’s heartbeat stopped roughly 100–130 metres from the trail, suggesting he died at that location. The device remained at that position overnight but began moving again at about 9:00 a.m. the next morning, travelling several hundred metres through undergrowth. The Asahi said that pattern is consistent with a brown bear later returning and dragging the body.
On August 15, a bear accompanied by two cubs was reportedly seen carrying the man’s body; authorities subsequently killed all three animals. Investigators also discovered a mound of earth nearby and traces of the victim — who was engaged to be married. Police reportedly limited the victim’s parents to identifying his face because of the extent of his injuries.
Wider Context
This incident comes amid an alarming rise in bear encounters across Japan this year: authorities have reported a record 13 bear-related fatalities and more than 200 injuries, with sightings near schools and in urban areas increasing concerns, particularly in rural northern regions such as Hokkaido.
Note: Timeline details are based on the Asahi Shimbun’s reporting of the recovered device and police accounts.
