Mongolia bear attack kills man and injures woman near Ulaanbaatar

A bear attack on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, has resulted in the death of a man in his 40s and left a woman in her 50s seriously injured. The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday in the Bayanzurkh district when the victims were inside a traditional ger.

Authorities have deployed a team of 35 rangers to locate the animal. In response to the incident, officials have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are working to acquire tranquilizer dart guns for rural rangers. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant.

There has been a significant surge in bear sightings across Mongolia. In the capital, 24 sightings have been confirmed this year, compared to just two in 2018. Nationally, 754 sightings have been recorded across 11 provinces and the capital in 2026. Approximately 80% of these sightings involved cubs or female bears with cubs. Experts suggest that climate change, food scarcity, and the expansion of human settlements into wildlife habitats may be driving bears closer to populated areas.