Japan’s robot wolf sells out as record bear attacks drive demand

towledev

I wonder how the bears would write this headline

readonkeyless

Interested to learn about the encroachment into bear territory. Disappointed this article didn't dig more into exactly why this is becoming an increasing problem. Since Japan's population is declining and most younger people moving into larger cities like Tokyo in search of jobs, my assumption would be that there would be less development in more rural areas, not more.

dudeinjapan

> The robot scarecrows are used to ward off bears in rural areas Two thoughts on this captioned image: (1) holy $&!# that is horrifying (2) if its designed to ward off bears, isn't it a scarebear?

water-drummer

Thought I was in r/nottheonion for a moment

rwmj

A friend who lives there sent me this photo of a bear roaming an Aomori building from a few days ago. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/2026051... ( https://archive.ph/Z6llc https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/attachment/327729/ )

bombcar

I know how this ends; with robot bears fighting off robot wolves whilst we cower underground.

hirvi74

I wonder if Japan would need robot wolves had they not wrongfully drove their native wolf species to extinction?

swiftcoder

Pretty sure I’m going to be seeing that robot wolf in my nightmares…

CamperBob2

It seems these really are just scarecrows, in that they are rooted to the spot. It's not a robot if it can't move.

amazingamazing

Are these uniquely effective compared to drones, RC cars, etc?

bitwize

I was kinda hoping for Bladewolf from Metal Gear Rising but no. Still pretty scary though, and it makes a variety of intimidating noises like a GEKKO unit!

freetime2

With AI seemingly coming for my job, I've been thinking about what I want to do for the next phase of my career. Today I have found the answer - Monster Wolf builder!

jojobas

Japan's firearm regime let to near extinction of hunters. Bears have mostly forgotten that humans are fear, pain and death, doubt these things would change that.

bilsbie

Japan has bears and they’re dangerous? Why not use bear spray?

TurdF3rguson

When I read a story like this it makes me think: man, Japan really needs to get its act together. America knows exactly what to do when bears are attacking and we're out of robot wolves.

brudgers

Karelian Bear Dogs are a better way to manage bears. For example the National Park Service uses them and the Wind River Bear Institute has Karelian Bear Dogs on call. And they are awesome dogs…bread so you can trust your life to one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelian_Bear_Dog https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/view.htm?id=97DA9C58-7976-4D... https://beardogs.org/

shrubble

The story on this is that it has 50 sounds that it makes; competing units with less than about 50 sounds, the animals get used to and don’t view the wolf as threatening after a while. However with 50 sounds the animals do not get used to it and they are scared away.