Apennine brown bears have been isolated from their European counterparts since the Roman Empire. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. While bear attacks seem to have become a significant problem in Japan--with the country going as far as deploying the army --new research reveals that an Italian bear species has evolved to be less aggressive. Apennine brown bears () have been in close contact with humans for generations. Their small, endangered population exists only in central Italy, and previous research suggests that this population split off from other European brown bears 2,000 to 3,000 years ago .

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Japan is calling in its army to wrestle its ongoing bear problem . Last month, the country's Ministry of the Environment reported that Asian black bear or moon bear () and brown bear () populations have attacked over 100 people since March. With at least 10 fatalities among the tally, the government announced on November 5 that it is stepping up control efforts by deploying soldiers to Akita prefecture on the island of Honshu in northern Japan. In a statement to reporters, Akita's Governor Kenta Suzuki called the situation "desperate," noting that sightings and attacks are now occurring daily.