In Japan, a bear with exceptional skills, capable of opening windows and using taps, is causing concern after attacking four individuals. The intelligent animal is currently at large in Fukushima, where authorities and hunters are actively searching for it following incidents at an office building and a factory.

Caught on camera on Wednesday, the bear was seen chasing and injuring a worker in a company parking lot before being scared off by a passing motorist. Seeking refuge in an office building, the bear attacked another person before fleeing once more.

Subsequently, the bear injured two more individuals and was later spotted in an electronics factory. Workers witnessed the bear demonstrating its cleverness by turning on a tap using its paws to drink water. Despite efforts to capture it using tranquilizer guns and traps, the bear managed to evade capture by unlatching a locked window and escaping.

Authorities attempted to sedate the bear with a tranquilizer dart, but it seemed unaffected by the anesthesia. Describing the bear as highly intelligent, Fukushima’s mayor, Yuki Baba, expressed concern during an emergency press conference.

Intensive search operations involving government officials, police, hunters, and drones are ongoing to locate the elusive bear, which remains at large. Precautionary measures have been taken in the area, with local schools closed briefly and teachers securing windows and doors.

Bear attacks in Japan have been on the rise, with 13 fatalities and 238 serious incidents reported in the year leading up to March. Changes in food sources, climate, and human settlements are believed to contribute to the increased encounters between bears and humans.

In response to the surge in bear-related incidents, Japan recently modified its gun laws to allow emergency firearm use in residential areas. However, in this particular case, no firearms were utilized due to safety concerns related to flammable materials in the suspected hiding place of the bear.