Japan is planning to hire bear hunters after a record number of fatal attacks.

Warning: This article contains a description of injuries caused by bear attacks.

Since April, 12 people have been killed in bear attacks — four times the total number of people killed last year.

Several men in their 70s have been killed by bears, including one who Japanese broadcaster TV Iwate reported had his head separated from his torso.

Injuries from bear attacks have also almost doubled, including more than 100 people who have been left with deep gashes and bites from bear attacks.

This year's figures show the largest number of fatal bear attacks since records began in 2006.

Measures to protect the population are now being discussed by Japan's cabinet.

"An increasing number of bears have been enterin

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