Spate of deadly bear attacks in Russia leaves 35 people dead

A surge in fatal bear attacks has claimed the lives of 35 individuals across Russia since the onset of spring, according to Russia's RIA news agency. This alarming increase in fatalities came from 22 deaths at the beginning of October, as reported on Wednesday. The number of deaths has skyrocketed in recent weeks, soaring from 22 to 35, according to the source.

Russia's population of brown bears has swelled to 308,000, a more than doubling over the past three decades. This growth is attributed to shorter and milder winters. However, some regions have been struggling to manage bear populations effectively. The government announced in September that it was drafting measures to facilitate bear culling.

Alexei Tsydenov, head of Russia's Buryatia region, stated that the rise in bear numbers and the surge in human attacks is partly due to a shift in hunters enlisting in the military as Russia fights in Ukraine. Tsydenov, who noted an atypical number of bear-related incidents this year, pointed to other contributing factors such as a poor harvest, forest fires, and a decline in Chinese demand for bear products like bile and paws.

Currently, Russia is utilizing only about 27% of its quota limit for bear cullings, stated zoologist Mikhail Krechmar in an interview with the state-run TASS agency. The Russian Hunting and Fishing Union did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.