Japan Robot Wolves In High Demand To Scare Off Bears
Tokyo : A Japanese company that produces ferocious-looking robot wolves has been inundated with orders after a record number of deadly bear attacks on humans last year.
“Monster Wolf” is an animated scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare wild animals.
Ohta Seiki, the Hokkaido-based company that produces the devices, has already received nearly 50 orders this year; This is above the normal volume seen for the entire year.
“We make these by hand. We can’t make them fast enough right now. We’re asking our customers to wait two to three months,” company president Yuji Ohta told AFP.
“There was increased awareness of bear safety and precautions against wildlife damage (to farm products). There was also increased awareness that our product was effective in dealing with bears,” Ohta said.
Orders come mostly from farmers, golf course operators and people working in rural areas such as construction.
Bears killed 13 people in Japan in 2025-2026; this was more than double the previous high.
According to official data, more than 50,000 bear sightings have been recorded across the country; This is more than double the record set two years ago.
The animals have been seen breaking into homes, loitering near schools, and attacking supermarkets and spas almost every day.
The number of bears captured and culled nearly tripled from the previous year to 14,601, an all-time high.
According to local media reports, in some northern regions, the number of animals waking up from hibernation in April was four times higher than last year.
The “Monster Wolf” consists of faux fur draped over a mounted tube frame, attached to speakers, adorned with a menacing, open-mouthed face.
With prices starting at around $4,000 or more, the system comes with a battery, solar panels, sensors, speakers and other apparatus.
It broadcasts more than 50 types of recorded sounds, including human voices and electronic noises, that can be heard up to a kilometer away.
The device turns its head from side to side, its red LED eyes blink, and its tail is equipped with blue LEDs.
Ohta launched the product in 2016 to prevent deer, pigs and bears from damaging agricultural crops, and it was initially derided as a gimmick.
The company is now developing the device by attaching it to wheels to chase animals or patrol certain roads.
Ohta also plans to develop a handheld version for hikers, fishermen, and schoolchildren, as well as exploring AI cameras for future models.
“We wanted to apply our production to do our part in dealing with the bears,” he said.
