Russia announces emergency measures after fatal brown bear attacks

The Russian government has announced emergency measures to control the brown bear population following a series of attacks that have killed at least 22 people since this spring. The bear population has more than doubled over the last three decades, reaching approximately 308,000 individuals, a trend attributed in part to shorter and milder winters caused by climate change.

Recent fatal incidents include a 23-year-old killed while gathering berries in Kamchatka and a woman attacked in her garden in Siberia. In the Krasnoyarsk region, authorities have opened a criminal case against the regional Ministry of Environment following the deaths of seven people in September, alleging negligence.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev stated that systemic measures are required to ensure safe coexistence between humans and animals. Proposed government actions include reviewing and potentially lifting hunting quotas, establishing regional population limits, granting local authorities more control, and allocating additional funding to high-risk regions.