Bear attacks rise in Mongolia, alarming residents

A bear invaded a couple's home on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, killing the man and leaving the woman severely injured. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in the Bayanzurkh district, highlighting a surge in bear sightings across the country.

What happened on the night of the attack

The man, in his 40s, died at the scene. The woman, in her 50s, managed to escape, seek help from neighbors, and was taken to the hospital, where she remains in serious condition, according to the head of the city's environment department, Munkhbayar M.

Increase in bear sightings

Authorities have recorded 24 confirmed bear sightings in Ulaanbaatar this year, compared to just two in 2018 and one in 2019. Nationwide, 754 sightings have been reported across 11 provinces and the capital.

Response from authorities

A group of 35 rangers is attempting to track down and eliminate the bear responsible. Hunting permits have been issued in eight provinces, and authorities are seeking tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers in rural areas.

Suspected causes of the increase

A bear captured in Khentii province had no food in its stomach, according to Baljinnyam N, from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. In September, the government banned the harvesting of nuts and wild berries in mountainous areas for the current year.

Regional context

An increase in human-bear encounters has also been observed in other parts of Asia, such as Russia and Japan, where shifts in food availability and a declining rural population are cited as contributing factors.

With information from BBC, CBS News, The Manila Times.