A bear attack in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar resulted in one fatality and left a woman seriously injured, Mongolian authorities reported. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in the Bayanzurkh district, where a man in his 40s was killed and a woman in her 50s was injured while inside their home. The woman managed to escape and sought help from neighbors and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Munkhbayar M., head of Ulaanbaatar’s environment department, confirmed the attack during a news briefing and noted that a team of 35 rangers has been deployed to track and kill the bear responsible. Bear sightings in Mongolia have risen sharply this year, with 24 confirmed incidents in Ulaanbaatar alone, compared to just two in 2018 and one in 2019.

Authorities have responded by issuing bear-hunting permits in eight provinces to address the increasing encounters. There is also a push to equip rangers with tranquilizer dart guns to aid in managing bear populations, particularly in rural areas.

While investigations continue into the reasons behind the rise in sightings, preliminary findings suggest food scarcity may be a factor. An examined bear hunted in the eastern province of Khentii was found with an empty stomach, prompting officials to impose a ban in September on harvesting nuts and berries from mountainous regions for the remainder of the year.

Across Mongolia, there have been 754 bear sightings reported this year across 11 provinces and the capital, with about 80% involving cubs or female bears with cubs. The increase mirrors trends observed in other countries such as Japan, where bear encounters and attacks near urban areas have also grown.

Experts indicate that the causes of the rise in bear activity are multifaceted, involving shifts in food availability possibly linked to climate change, as well as demographic changes such as rural depopulation. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as they work to balance public safety with wildlife conservation efforts.