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Bear kills man and injures woman in home attack near Mongolian capital
Overview
A bear attacked a couple inside their traditional nomadic tent (ger) in the Bayanzurkh district near Ulaanbaatar, killing a man in his 40s and seriously injuring a woman in her 50s. Officials report a rising number of bear sightings near the capital, driven by factors such as climate change and food scarcity, prompting warnings to locals and increased measures by authorities.
Key points
- A bear killed a man in his 40s and seriously injured a woman in her 50s during an overnight attack in their ger near Ulaanbaatar.
- The injured woman managed to escape and alert neighbours, and is now receiving hospital treatment in a serious condition.
- Officials note a sharp increase in bear sightings near the capital, with 24 reported this year compared to just two in 2018.
- Factors such as climate change and food scarcity are contributing to the rise in bear and human interactions in Mongolia.
- Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces, deployed rangers to search for the animal, and are seeking tranquiliser dart guns.