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The city’s environment department chief Munkhbayar M told a news briefing that the incident occurred in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar when the bear entered the couple’s traditional Mongolian dwelling. The man died at the scene with his body later found near the home while the woman sustained severe facial injuries from the animal’s claws before fleeing to alert neighbors. She is receiving treatment in serious condition at the National Center for Traumatology Research and Orthopaedics, according to the National Police Agency. A team of 35 rangers has been dispatched to locate and kill the bear as officials urged residents to report any further sightings immediately.
Bear sightings have increased markedly in Mongolia throughout 2026 with 24 confirmed cases in Ulaanbaatar alone compared with two in 2018 and one in 2019, Munkhbayar M stated. Nationwide figures from the environment authorities place the total at 754 sightings across 11 provinces and the capital, of which 80 percent involved cubs or female bears with young. The Straits Times reported that this rise has prompted viral social media videos showing bears entering gers, damaging property and attacking livestock in multiple areas.
This attack represents the first human fatality from a bear encounter in Mongolia in 2026, Xinhua reported on October 8. Earlier incidents this year included a bear killing eight cattle and a calf in Selenge province last week as well as another injuring dogs and killing eight goats in Arkhangai province. The National Police Agency confirmed that searches for the specific animal involved in the Bayanzurkh attack remain ongoing with support from emergency and environmental teams.
Experts have linked the broader trend to climate change, food scarcity in natural habitats, overexploitation of resources and recent forest fires, a Xinhua assessment found. In the eastern Khentii province at least 192 sightings have been logged since late August according to local environment officials. One bear examined after being hunted in that province had an empty stomach which contributed to authorities banning nut and berry harvesting in mountainous regions for the remainder of the year.
The Environment and Climate Change Ministry has issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and is attempting to acquire tranquilliser dart guns to assist rangers in rural zones, according to ministry spokesman Baljinnyam N. Such measures follow repeated reports of bears nearing residential zones and herder camps throughout the spring and summer. Public warnings have been reiterated in recent weeks as encounters with livestock have also climbed with one northern province alone recording 162 animals killed by brown bears since spring.
The Eurasian brown bear inhabits regions around Ulaanbaatar and the increase in human-wildlife conflict has extended to other parts of Asia though Mongolia’s figures show a particularly steep escalation this year. Officials continue to monitor the situation while emphasising precautions for those living or working in affected districts. Data from the provincial environment departments has been used to map high-risk zones and guide the current response efforts.
