{
  "id": 7838453,
  "title": "“Bear attacks will intensify, and the government will blame the beasts — the only solution it knows is to shoot them,” expert says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/bear-attacks-will-intensify-and-the-government-will-blame-the-beasts",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T17:57:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/297199"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since late August, Russian media and Telegram channels have been reporting daily on new bear attacks against people. Regional authorities have declared heightened alerts, closed tourist routes, and Magadan Region Governor Sergei Nosov has called for legislation changes to control the bear population more strictly. The Natural Resources Ministry claims that 20-30 bear attacks per year are normal, though only 2014 saw such a high number of cases (166). However, the current wave is unusual in intensity and geography, with bears reported near populated areas in 41 regions, including places they had not been seen for years.\n\nIn late August, a bear attacked a woman near Novosibirsk, a rare occurrence for the region. This issue gained widespread attention after a bear entered a tent at a tourist camp near the village of Artybash in Altai, dragging 29-year-old Snezhanа Koroleva into the forest, killing her. Since then, Russian media have extensively reported on bear attacks. In August 26, Novosibirsk Region, a bear mauled a cow and charged at a woman checking on the herd. In August 30, Novgorod Region, a female bear attacked a hunter. In Kemerovo Region on August 30, a bear attacked a 68-year-old woman, and a police officer shot the bear. September 6, Krasnoyarsk Krai saw a bear maul a 40-year-old shift worker, who died at the scene. September 7, Buryatia, a bear attacked a man near his wife's bus stop in the forest, and despite surgery, he died in the hospital. September 16, Krasnoyarsk Krai had a bear attack a 66-year-old woman outside her home, killing her.\n\nBy mid-September, at least 12 people had been killed in bear attacks since the year began, with over 530 bears shot across the country. Authorities in various regions see mass culling as the primary solution. Krasnoyarsk Krai introduced a reward for every dangerous bear killed, while law enforcement is responsible for shooting bears in populated areas. In Irkutsk Region, authorities formed 81 task forces of 209 hunters and specialists to regulate the bear population. Buryatia shot 149 bears this season, and local agencies avoid using terms like \"shot\" or \"killed,\" instead using the term \"regulated.\" Authorities also restrict access to forests and public spaces, such as establishing a curfew in Altai's Turochaksky District after a tourist's death and closing trails in national parks. Remote learning has been implemented in schools due to bear intrusions.\n\nAt the federal level, the Natural Resources Ministry is collecting proposals from regions to amend legislation governing the bear population, with current rules allowing a maximum of a 30% population reduction per year. Governor Nosov has proposed creating sanitary buffer zones around populated areas, with any bears crossing the boundary to be shot without additional approvals. Biologists and wildlife experts attribute the increase in bear attacks to factors such as a growing bear population, poor harvests, wildfires, and bears becoming accustomed to human food sources.",
  "summary": "Since late August, Russian media outlets and Telegram channels have been reporting almost daily on new bear attacks against people. Regional authorities have declared a heightened alert and closed tourist routes, while Magadan Region Governor Sergei Nosov called for legislation to be revised to allow stricter controls on the bear population. At the same time, the Natural Resources Ministry…",
  "key_points": [
    "Bear attacks intensifying across 41 Russian regions",
    "At least 12 fatalities since year began, 530 bears shot",
    "Government proposes shooting bears as primary solution"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}