Hungry bears roam Russian villages as forest food runs short

Authorities in Russia’s Altai Krai have reported a rise in cases of bears approaching villages and coming into contact with people, prompting increased monitoring and, in some cases, lethal measures.

The regional Ministry of Natural Resources said it records every report of bear tracks or sightings near populated areas and issues permits to cull animals considered a direct threat to residents.

“More than 50 such decisions have been made over the summer — about 10 bears were killed in the past week alone,” the ministry said.

Experts attribute the increase in bear encounters to a poor nut harvest, which has left the animals struggling to find sufficient food in the forests and driven them toward fields and residential areas.

Authorities stress that culling is used only as a last resort when bears pose an immediate danger to people.

The situation follows a recent incident in the Altai Republic, where 12 bears were killed over two days in Turochaksky District after a tourist was killed in a bear attack. One of the animals culled was believed to have been involved in the incident.

By Vafa Guliyeva