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6 people killed in bear attacks in Siberia, as official warns one town is "under siege"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- At least six people have been killed in bear attacks in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region within a month, prompting prosecutors to investigate local officials for criminal negligence in controlling bear populations.
- Russia's brown bear population has more than doubled since 1990, reaching nearly 308,000 in 2026, raising concerns despite the overall number of attacks remaining stable at 20 to 30 annually.
- Since the start of the year, at least 14 people have died from bear attacks across Russia, with recent incidents involving victims mauled in forests near remote towns and while foraging for berries.
- The deputy head of the neighboring Khakassia region reported the town of Abaza, with around 10,000 residents, is effectively "under siege" by bears, with some animals recently killed to protect the community.
- Russian authorities note that bears usually flee from human encounters, but local officials are criticized for failing to regulate predator populations or prevent bears from entering inhabited areas.
