Siberian Hunters Launch Bear Cull Following Surge in Fatal Attacks
Russian authorities authorize bear population control measures after a spike in deadly attacks leaves at least 22 people dead across the region.
POLICY WIRE — Podtesovo, Russia — Hunters in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk have mobilized to track and cull brown bears following a alarming rise in lethal encounters with humans. The initiative comes as local residents in the Podtesovo settlement have increasingly sought assistance to combat the growing threat.
The Russian government announced last month that it is developing urgent strategies to manage the brown bear population, which has surged significantly. State media reports indicate that at least 22 individuals have been killed in bear attacks since the spring, including a woman who was fatally mauled in her own garden last week.
Data suggests the national brown bear population has more than doubled over the past three decades, reaching approximately 308,000 animals. Experts attribute this rapid growth in part to shorter, milder winters, while also citing human error as a contributing factor to the recent violence.
The situation remains critical, with at least 16 fatal encounters recorded across Russia during the month of September alone. Hunter Mikhail Kondakov noted that the community is under significant pressure to address the danger posed by the animals as they encroach further into populated areas.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
