Brown Bears
The brown bear (higuma; Ursus arctos) is a symbol of Shiretoko National Park and the largest land mammal in Japan. The indigenous Ainu people referred to the bear as kimun kamuy, or “god of the mountains.”
Several hundred of these bears live in the park, making Shiretoko National Park one of the most densely populated brown bear habitats in the world.
A fully grown adult male weighs 250 to 450 kilograms, and a female weighs 100 to 200 kilograms. Despite their size, brown bears feed mainly on plants, nuts, mushrooms, and, occasionally, spawning salmon.
Bears are wild animals and can be very dangerous. Do not feed the bears or stop to take photos. Confrontations can lead to human injury and a dead bear.