A school worker has been arrested in Japan in connection with the alleged killing of approximately 50 hamsters. The 36-year-old man faces charges related to animal protection laws following two separate incidents. He was arrested on Monday for the alleged killing of around 30 hamsters in late March, reportedly carried out with a 20-year-old woman.
This arrest follows a previous detention in July, when the same individual was accused of killing about 20 hamsters in February with a 19-year-old woman. Police stated that videos of the killings were found on the main suspect's confiscated smartphone, alongside messages that allegedly show him and the 20-year-old woman planning one of the attacks. Investigators quoted Hiroyuki Nasu, a senior Miyako police official, as saying one of the exchanged messages asked, "Where are we going to kill the hamsters and have fun?"
Authorities are continuing to investigate whether the suspect may have been involved in other similar incidents. The case has drawn attention amid a notable increase in animal abuse cases reported in Japan. In 2023, police recorded 181 cases of suspected animal welfare law violations, a record high and an increase from the previous year. This figure is more than five times the 33 cases recorded in 2010, when comparable records began. Additionally, 206 arrests or referrals to prosecutors were made for suspected violations of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals in 2023, marking the first time this number exceeded 200.
The National Police Agency attributes the rise in reported cases to increased public awareness of animal welfare and a greater number of reports from citizens. Approximately 118 of these cases came to light following reports from residents or third parties, an increase of 27 from the preceding year.