Bear

A brown bear entered a home in Ulaanbaatar’s Bayanzurkh District during the night of October 7–8, killing a man in his 40s and seriously injuring a 55-year-old woman. The incident has renewed concerns about public safety as bears are increasingly approaching residential areas in Mongolia.

One person killed in attack

According to Zuv.mn and international news agency AFP, the attack took place near Burkhant Khoshuu in the district’s 35th khoroo. The man had reportedly come to the household to help with haymaking. The woman managed to escape but was taken to hospital with serious injuries to her head and facial bones.

At a briefing on October 8, the relevant authorities said they were searching for the bear. Later reports that day said the bear responsible for the fatal attack had been safely neutralised.

Bear-related reports rise nationwide

According to an October 8 report by Time.mn, citing the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, a total of 754 bear-related calls and reports had been registered nationwide since the start of 2026. Of these, 24 incidents were recorded in residential areas across 11 provinces and the capital, while 730 were reported in specially protected areas. More than 80 percent of the reports involved cubs or female bears accompanied by cubs.

Earlier, on September 18, Peak News reported, based on information gathered from the provinces, that around 80 cases of bears entering residential areas had been recorded in Bulgan, Khentii, Selenge, Khuvsgul, Dornod, Uvs, Arkhangai, Darkhan-Uul, Tuv and Zavkhan provinces. On September 23, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ts. Sandag-Ochir said at a briefing following a Cabinet meeting that more than 240 cases had been recorded in 12 provinces over the previous month. These figures cover different dates and areas, so they cannot be directly compared.

Food shortages may be a key factor

Officials say they are conducting a detailed study into why bears are approaching residential areas, with a shortage of natural food believed to be one possible contributing factor.

Officials said an autopsy of a bear captured in Khentii Province in September found that its stomach was empty and that it was suffering from a lack of food. In connection with this, AFP reported that the gathering of nuts and berries in mountain areas had been banned until the end of the year in September. However, it has not been established that a shortage of food is the cause of all the incidents.

What measures is the Government taking?

On September 23, the Government announced a decision to allocate MNT 1.088 billion from its reserve fund for fuel and operating costs for rangers, as well as emergency measures related to bears. Officials also stressed the need to acquire specialised rifles for tranquilising bears and long-range deterrent sprays.

Following the fatal attack on October 8, iKon.mn reported that permission had been granted in the capital to hunt adult bears that could pose a threat to human health. While this is an immediate safety response, the need remains to address bear movements, food availability and the causes of human-wildlife conflict as part of a comprehensive approach.

What should residents do?

Relevant authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant in forested and mountainous areas, haymaking fields and the outskirts of residential zones. Anyone encountering a brown bear should not approach it to take photographs, feed it, capture it or provoke it. Approaching a bear with cubs is particularly dangerous.

If a bear is seen in a residential area, residents should move to a safe distance rather than trying to chase it away or capture it, and immediately notify the local environmental authorities and emergency services.

The rise in bear-related calls and reports in Mongolia, together with the fatal attack in the capital, highlights the need to improve wildlife research, prevention measures and local preparedness alongside emergency responses.