Bear attacks in Turkey

On July 4 2026 a 70‑year‑old man was killed after a bear entered the residential area of Seferihisar, Izmir, and attacked him while he slept on a bench. Emergency responders rescued him, but he died at a university hospital. Local officials reported the animal had been sighted for weeks, linked the incident to previous livestock attacks, and warned residents to avoid solitude at night, prompting calls for enhanced wildlife monitoring and public‑safety measures.

Less than a month later, on July 25 2026, a 53‑year‑old farmer in Erzincan province was mauled while working his sunflower field. He defended himself with a shovel, sustaining serious hand injuries but surviving after surgery. The survivor urged stronger preventative actions, highlighting the tension between existing bans on bear hunting and the need to protect rural workers. Both events have intensified discussion in Turkey about wildlife management policies and community safety in areas where bears are increasingly encountered.