Tokyo: A GPS watch recovered from a hiker killed in a bear attack in northern Japan has offered chilling insight into his final moments, revealing not only his desperate movements before he died but also that the animal returned to his body the next day. The incident adds to a troubling spike in bear encounters across the country, where attacks have reached record levels this year.

Authorities say 13 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in bear incidents in 2025, with growing sightings near homes, schools and even supermarkets – particularly in Hokkaido and other rural northern regions.

Data shows sudden deviation and fatal struggle

According to details reported by the Asahi Shimbun, the victim’s GPS-enabled smartwatch – which logs travel routes and tracks heart rate – was recovered after the fatal attack on 14 August. The data showed that at about 11 a.m., while hiking in Hokkaido, the device suddenly veered sharply off the designated trail and descended into dense forest.

In an area thick with undergrowth, the watch’s recorded path looped back on itself several times, indicating the man was moving chaotically in a small zone – likely during the encounter with the bear. His heart rate data stopped 100 to 130 metres from the trail, suggesting he died at the spot where the device came to rest.

Bear returned the next morning

The watch did not move overnight, but log data revealed new activity around 9 am the following day. It travelled several hundred metres through the brush, which investigators believe shows the bear returned to the site and dragged the man’s body away.

On 15 August, a day after the attack, a female brown bear accompanied by two cubs was spotted carrying the man’s remains in its mouth. Wildlife officials later killed all three animals. Nearby, they discovered a mound of earth created by the bear and additional traces confirming the victim’s identity.

The man, who was engaged to be married, suffered severe injuries in the attack. Police asked his parents to identify the body but allowed them to view only his face due to the condition of the remains.

(With inputs from AFP)