Japanese doctor charged in trafficking of bear gall bladders
SEATTLE -- A Japanese doctor is facing charges in King County following allegations he illegally killed black bears in Washington state and smuggled bear gall bladders out of the country.
Tohru Shigemura, 71, has been charged with unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree, and alien in possession of a firearm without a license.
Investigators believe Shigemura obtained firearm and hunting licenses in Washington state by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, then illegally killed six bears, some of them on tribal land.
According to the statement of probable cause, Shigemura first caught the attention of state officials in April 2007, when they learned he may be "involved in illegal hunting, smuggling of wildlife part, and trafficking in bear gall bladder."
A psychiatrist by trade, Shigemura told immigration officials he maintains a residence in Seattle and frequently visits "for hunting trips, medical supplies/books, and because he has children who are/were educated in the U.S.," adding "he is interested in bringing bear gall (bladder) back to Japan from the U.S.," detectives with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote.
Shigemura did not provide a reason for seeking the animal organ, but according to the Humane Society of the United States, a bear gall bladder can sell for as much as $3,400 in Asia, where it is sometimes used for medicinal purposes to treat a variety of illnesses including fever, liver disease, convulsions, diabetes, and heart disease.
"A person who eats bear paws is believed to acquire the strength and vigor of a bear, and the consumption of bear flesh in believed to enhance one's virility," the Humane Society's Web site said.
As an alien, Shigemura is not allowed to bring firearm into the U.S., and he was denied entry into the country in December 2006.
Visitors who do not intend to reside in Washington state permanently are also ineligible from obtaining hunting licenses, but because investigators believed Shigemura was hunting illegally, they planted a GPS device on his car.
In March 2008, detectives removed the GPS device, which indicated Shigemura's car had been driven to a sporting goods store in Fife where firearms are sold. The store's records showed that Shigemura purchased a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as a bird call and ammunition, just days before.
In the following months, undercover detectives approached Shigemura, and managed to get invited to his home in December. While at the home, they were shown "various wildlife parts and mounts," the statement said. Shigemura also confided that he'd killed four bears in five days during the summer of 2008, and that he'd hunted on an Indian reservation without permission, detectives said.
The state's hunting limit on black bears is two per licensed hunter per season, which extends from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15.
Detectives served a search warrant on Shigemura's home and vehicle in June 2009, and found evidence that indicated he had killed six black bears and had them processed. They also found 11 firearms, including a pistol, and a number of hunting and fishing licenses. Dried bear gall bladders were also found.
Shigemura admitted to having killed the bears on the Quinault Indian Reservations, investigators said. He also admitted to having obtained firearm by posing as a U.S. citizen.
Shigemura denied smuggling bear gall bladders, using bear gall bladders for medicinal purpose or trafficking in bear parts. He said "he only retained bear gall for a memory of the hunt," the document said.
Records indicate Shigemura was cited in Saskatchewan, Canada for discharging a firearm from a vehicle in October 2005. He was also cited in Iowa, and received warnings in Idaho.
Shigemura has not been jailed.
Tohru Shigemura, 71, has been charged with unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree, and alien in possession of a firearm without a license.
Investigators believe Shigemura obtained firearm and hunting licenses in Washington state by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, then illegally killed six bears, some of them on tribal land.
According to the statement of probable cause, Shigemura first caught the attention of state officials in April 2007, when they learned he may be "involved in illegal hunting, smuggling of wildlife part, and trafficking in bear gall bladder."
A psychiatrist by trade, Shigemura told immigration officials he maintains a residence in Seattle and frequently visits "for hunting trips, medical supplies/books, and because he has children who are/were educated in the U.S.," adding "he is interested in bringing bear gall (bladder) back to Japan from the U.S.," detectives with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote.
Shigemura did not provide a reason for seeking the animal organ, but according to the Humane Society of the United States, a bear gall bladder can sell for as much as $3,400 in Asia, where it is sometimes used for medicinal purposes to treat a variety of illnesses including fever, liver disease, convulsions, diabetes, and heart disease.
"A person who eats bear paws is believed to acquire the strength and vigor of a bear, and the consumption of bear flesh in believed to enhance one's virility," the Humane Society's Web site said.
As an alien, Shigemura is not allowed to bring firearm into the U.S., and he was denied entry into the country in December 2006.
Visitors who do not intend to reside in Washington state permanently are also ineligible from obtaining hunting licenses, but because investigators believed Shigemura was hunting illegally, they planted a GPS device on his car.
In March 2008, detectives removed the GPS device, which indicated Shigemura's car had been driven to a sporting goods store in Fife where firearms are sold. The store's records showed that Shigemura purchased a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as a bird call and ammunition, just days before.
In the following months, undercover detectives approached Shigemura, and managed to get invited to his home in December. While at the home, they were shown "various wildlife parts and mounts," the statement said. Shigemura also confided that he'd killed four bears in five days during the summer of 2008, and that he'd hunted on an Indian reservation without permission, detectives said.
The state's hunting limit on black bears is two per licensed hunter per season, which extends from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15.
Detectives served a search warrant on Shigemura's home and vehicle in June 2009, and found evidence that indicated he had killed six black bears and had them processed. They also found 11 firearms, including a pistol, and a number of hunting and fishing licenses. Dried bear gall bladders were also found.
Shigemura admitted to having killed the bears on the Quinault Indian Reservations, investigators said. He also admitted to having obtained firearm by posing as a U.S. citizen.
Shigemura denied smuggling bear gall bladders, using bear gall bladders for medicinal purpose or trafficking in bear parts. He said "he only retained bear gall for a memory of the hunt," the document said.
Records indicate Shigemura was cited in Saskatchewan, Canada for discharging a firearm from a vehicle in October 2005. He was also cited in Iowa, and received warnings in Idaho.
Shigemura has not been jailed.