A bear has killed a man and seriously injured a woman after attacking them inside their home in Bayanzurkh district near Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar.
The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday inside a traditional Mongolian ger, a nomadic tent-like dwelling, according to local police. The man, who was in his 40s, died in the attack. The woman, believed to be in her 50s, managed to escape and alert neighbours before being taken to hospital in serious condition.
City official Munkhbayar M told reporters that authorities had launched a search for the bear and warned residents to remain vigilant. The attack comes amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people in Mongolia.
Officials say climate change and food scarcity are among the factors that may be contributing to the animals appearing more frequently near human settlements. Munkhbayar said there had been 24 reported bear sightings around Ulaanbaatar this year, compared with only two in 2018, according to AFP.
The increase has also been reflected in videos circulating on Mongolian social media. Some reportedly show bears entering or damaging gers and attacking livestock, highlighting growing interaction between wildlife and communities.
A team of rangers is currently searching for the bear involved in the latest attack. Authorities have urged residents to report sightings and avoid approaching the animal. AFP also reported that bear-hunting permits had been issued across eight provinces, while officials were seeking tranquiliser dart guns to help rangers respond to bears in rural areas.
Mongolia has a large nomadic population, although more people are increasingly settling in urban and agricultural communities. The growing overlap between human settlements and wildlife habitats has raised concerns about the risks of further encounters.
Authorities have yet to announce whether the bear involved in Wednesday’s attack has been located.
