Bear kills man in home attack near Mongolian capital
Police say the bear entered a traditional nomadic dwelling near Ulaanbaatar, killing a man and seriously injured a woman.
A bear killed a man and severely injured a woman in their home near the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. The incident occurred in the Bayanzurkh district in a traditional Mongolian ger, or tent-like structure, on Wednesday night. The man, in his 40s, succumbed to his injuries, while the woman, aged 50, managed to escape and alert neighbors. She is currently in serious condition at the hospital, according to city official Munkhbayar M.
Bear sightings near humans are becoming more frequent in Mongolia due to factors like climate change and food scarcity. Rangers are currently on the hunt for the bear, and authorities have warned residents to be cautious and report any sightings. This year, there have been 24 bear sightings near the capital, a stark contrast to just two incidents in 2018, as reported by the AFP news agency.
The growing number of bear-human interactions have been widely shared on Mongolian social media, with videos showing bears entering ger homes, damaging property, and attacking livestock. In response, bear-hunting permits have been issued in eight provinces, and officials are seeking to obtain tranquilizer dart guns to assist rangers in rural areas.
An increasing portion of Mongolia's population is nomadic, but settled agricultural communities are also on the rise. A significant number of people now reside in the capital city or other major urban areas.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
