Forget about scarecrows. The wolf-robot scares off wild animals
2:50 PM EDT, September 29, 2023, updated: 9:11 AM EDT, October 5, 2023
Bear attacks have significantly increased in recent months in Japan. The city of Takikawa on the island of Hokkaido is not remaining idle, and a robot-wolf has been deployed there to effectively eliminate the problem.
Although it's hard not to smile when looking at the Japanese wolf-robot in the images and footage shared online, it turns out that it has already proven itself on a large scale as a modern scarecrow.
The wolf-robot is supposed to deter bears
As reported by the BBC, it was originally designed to deter wild animals from cultivated fields, but it is now also used by local authorities and highway managers, golf course owners and pig farmers.
Recently, the Japanese have been having more and more problems with bears. They approach buildings and can be dangerous to humans.
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment published a report this month, which indicates that there have been 54 incidents of bear attacks on people across the country from April to July - including one that resulted in the death of the attacked. This took place on the island of Hokkaido in May.
The authorities of the city of Takikawa, located 70 km from the place where a 54-year-old fisherman was attacked, are not sitting idly by, but have decided to purchase a wolf-robot, which is supposed to deter bears.
The mechanical pet looks like a real wolf, and it also makes disturbing noises. According to the manufacturer, the robot can boast a range of as many as 50 sounds - from various kinds of growls to howls.
In addition, his eyes glow red and the whole thing moves on a special vehicle, so the robot doesn't stand still, but changes its position. The wolf also turns its head and scares off with LED lights.
The authorities of the city of Takikawa announced that bears are becoming more active and dangerous in the fall, as they seek food before going into hibernation at the end of November. According to local media, the animals are having an increasingly difficult time finding a sufficient number of nuts or acorns, which forces them to approach buildings.
