Six Killed in Bear Attacks in Siberia, Town ‘Under Siege’ as Officials Investigate Negligence

POLICY WIRE — Krasnoyarsk, Russia — At least six individuals have lost their lives in bear attacks across the remote Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk over the past month, according to prosecutors, as an official from a nearby area described one town as being ‘under siege’ by the animals.

The regional Investigative Committee has launched an inquiry into potential criminal negligence, alleging that local authorities failed to manage bear populations or prevent them from entering human settlements. The brown bear population in Russia has more than doubled since 1990, growing from approximately 130,000 to nearly 308,000 by 2026, as reported by the country’s natural resources ministry.

Local media and officials have raised concerns about the increasing frequency of bear encounters, despite the number of attacks nationwide remaining relatively stable at around 20 to 30 per year. Since the start of this year, at least 14 people have been killed in bear attacks across Russia, according to The Moscow Times. In one recent incident, two pensioners were found dead in a forest near Podtyosovo, and a 40-year-old factory worker was killed while walking through the woods on September 6. Earlier in the month, two others were killed while foraging for berries along the Lena River.

In another case, a 39-year-old logger was killed by a bear early Wednesday. Meanwhile, the deputy head of the neighboring Khakassia region, Dmitry Buchenik, stated that the town of Abaza, home to roughly 10,000 residents, was surrounded by bears. He described the situation as alarming, with three bears reportedly killed during the incident. Unverified videos circulating online showed bears swimming near the town and crossing roads in front of vehicles. Russia’s emergency ministry claims that bears typically flee during most human encounters.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)