The bear population has doubled in 30 years, surpassing 300,000 animals.

On Friday, Igor Kobzev, governor of Russia’s Siberian Irkutsk region, said Russian authorities have authorized the hunting of more than 500 brown bears to control their population after the animals killed several people in recent weeks.

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“At a meeting chaired by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, the increase in the bear population and the risks associated with these animals entering populated areas in various regions of Russia were discussed. The brown bear population has doubled over the past 30 years, surpassing 300,000 animals,” he said.

“Systematic measures are required to ensure safe coexistence between humans and these animals,” Kobzev said, recalling that Irkutsk has been under a maximum alert since Sept. 18 because of the risk of attacks by the animals.

Despite the measure, three people have died and four others have been injured after encountering the animals over the past two weeks.

There is something so absolutely adorably cute about Bear Cubs that can only be explained with a Smile

And they are Russians !!! 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/p57IL6SFkA

— Maryana Naumova 🇷🇺 (@MaryanaNaumove) September 27, 2026

After the alert was declared, 342 bears considered “problematic” were killed, and authorities expect to hunt 564 identified animals. To do so, 142 teams of specialists have been formed, hunting between 12 and 15 bears a day, a figure five times higher than last year.

Emergency services receive up to 80 calls every day about bears entering urban areas. The situation is repeated in other Russian regions. On Friday, for example, a bear roaming near homes in the south of Sakhalin Island was neutralized.

Authorities have also recorded cases of bear attacks in Kamchatka, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Komi and even near the resort city of Sochi, on the Black Sea.

In areas surrounding Lake Baikal, authorities are offering up to 15,000 rubles (US$180) for each bear hunted, while in Tomsk the amount could rise to twice that figure, according to a proposal by the regional department of fisheries and hunting.

On Friday, the Green Party called on the Lower House (Duma) to establish fines of up to 30,000 rubles (US$360) for deliberately feeding the animals and failing to properly manage waste, which also attracts bears to human settlements.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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