Hyogo prefecture has set a population target of around 800 bears, a level at which it considers they are not at risk of extinction
Hyogo prefecture says it is the first in Japan to use information gathered from microchipped bears to determine an appropriate population size and maintain a balance between conservation and population control.
The initiative began in 2003, when bears in Hyogo were considered to be at risk of extinction and officials launched a survey primarily aimed at conservation.
Researchers implanted identification chips in captured bears, accumulated data on the animals and developed their own formula to estimate the overall population.
As bear numbers recovered, the prefecture shifted its focus to managing the population while preventing a return to endangered levels.