TOKYO, April 17-- The Japanese government has added bears to the list of animals that can be culled with the help of state subsidies, after a record number of bear attacks on humans was reported in the country.

The Environment Ministry announced Tuesday that bears would be added to the list of "Designated Management Wildlife," with the exception of black bears native to the Shikoku region, western Japan, because their population is not expanding.

Brown bears live in Hokkaido, northern Japan, while Asian black bears live in 33 of the country's 47 prefectures with their population and habitat expanding in many areas.

Environment Minister Shintaro Ito said the Japanese government is preparing to start the subsidies in the fall, when bear incidents tend to increase.

According to the ministry, during fiscal 2023 through March, 219 people, including six fatalities, fell victim to 198 bear attacks across 19 prefectures, marking the worst year since records began in 2006.