Altai Mountains bear attack leads to hunting licenses and curfew

Authorities in the Altai Mountains of Russia have taken emergency measures following a fatal bear attack on a 29-year-old female tourist. The woman was reportedly dragged from her tent at a campsite near the village of Artybasch and killed.

In response to the incident, regional authorities issued additional licenses for hunting bears to regulate the population, noting that predators are increasingly appearing in local villages. Security measures have been implemented, including a curfew for residents and tourists between 20:00 and 10:00, the deployment of police and hunter patrols, and the use of drones for monitoring the area.

The incident has also prompted a criminal investigation by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. This follows reports that police and wildlife wardens on the scene allegedly failed to kill the animal, instead firing shots into the air due to restrictions on shooting within populated areas. The victim was an employee of the Novosibirsk regional administration of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.