Full Breakdown
Surge in Fatal Bear Attacks Prompts Probe in Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk Region
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Spike in Fatalities
Prosecutors announced on September 23, 2026 that at least six people have been killed in bear attacks in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region within a single month. The deaths include two pensioners found mauled near the remote town of Podtyosovo, a 40-year-old factory worker who entered a forest earlier in September, two foragers attacked on the banks of the Lena River, and a 39-year-old logger killed while guarding equipment. The Investigative Committee of Russia’s sparsely populated Krasnoyarsk and Khakassia regions opened a criminal-negligence probe, accusing local officials of failing to control bear numbers and to keep predators away from inhabited areas.
Background & Context
Russia’s brown-bear population has more than doubled since 1990, rising from roughly 130,000 to almost 308,000 in 2026, according to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. Despite this growth, the ministry reports that the annual number of bear attacks nationwide has remained steady at about 20 to 30 incidents per year. Local media and officials, however, have expressed alarm over the recent cluster of lethal encounters in Krasnoyarsk, noting that 14 people have been killed in bear attacks across Russia since the start of the year, based on a tally by The Moscow Times.
Official Statements & Responses
The regional branch of Russia’s Interior Ministry confirmed that one survivor reported the Lena River incident. He added that some bears were chased off while three were killed, including one described as “huge.” Prosecutors’ investigation targets alleged negligence by local authorities for not regulating the predator population.
Data & Statistics
- Brown-bear population: ~130,000 (1990) -> ~308,000 (2026) – Ministry of Natural Resources.
- Nationwide bear attacks: 20-30 per year – Ministry of Natural Resources.
- Fatalities in Russia this year: 14 – The Moscow Times tally.
- Fatalities in Krasnoyarsk region this month: >=6 – Prosecutors (September 23, 2026).
The probe and public statements underscore growing concerns that rising bear numbers may be outpacing existing wildlife-management measures, prompting calls for stronger regional controls.