Sapporo closes Maruyama Park for two weeks after bear sightings in residential area

Sapporo has closed Maruyama Park and surrounding facilities for two weeks after multiple bear sightings were reported in the city's central district, with residents expressing fear about returning home after dark.

Police received reports Tuesday morning of 20-centimeter-wide bear footprints in a residential area near Maruyama Zoo, following earlier sightings of a one-meter-long bear in the Miyanomori district the previous evening.

The city government decided to close the entire park area after discovering additional bear footprints within Maruyama Zoo on Saturday and Sunday, and at Hokkaido Shrine on Sunday morning. Only the park center at the entrance will remain open with limited hours during the closure.

Residents are carrying bear spray for protection, with one local admitting: "I'll return home later today feeling somewhat afraid. Having bear spray makes me feel safer."

Authorities believe the same brown bear continues to move through nearby mountain areas. The closure will last approximately two weeks while officials monitor whether the bear remains in the area. The city has urged residents to avoid mountain and park areas during this period.

The park and zoo, located in central Sapporo near forested areas, have experienced increasing bear encounters as urban development reduces natural habitats and bears become more active during autumn foraging season