Police in Akita Prefecture have arrested 51-year-old Fujiyuki Shindo on suspicion of murdering his 91-year-old father, Fujiyoshi Shindo, after initially reporting the death as the result of a bear attack. The elder Shindo was found dead inside the family home in Daisen on 18 Aug. His son told officers a wild bear had entered the house and mauled the victim, prompting authorities to issue a bear-attack warning. An autopsy later revealed wounds consistent with a knife assault rather than an animal mauling, and investigators seized several knives at the scene. The wildlife alert was withdrawn and the case reclassified as homicide. The incident comes amid heightened public anxiety over wildlife encounters. The Environment Ministry recorded 219 bear attacks resulting in six deaths in the year to March 2024. Officials say the misreporting of the Akita case illustrates the challenges faced by first responders when fears of animal attacks intersect with criminal activity.