Bear kills man, seriously injures woman in their home in Mongolia as encounters rise across Asia

October 8, 2026 / 12:05 PM EDT / CBS/AFP

A bear killed a man and seriously maimed a woman in their home in the outskirts of Mongolia's capital, authorities said Thursday, warning that sightings of the animals have skyrocketed across the country this year.

The man in his 40s and the woman in her 50s were attacked on Wednesday night in the Bayanzurkh district on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, the city's environment department chief Munkhbayar M told a news briefing.

The woman fled after sustaining injuries and sought help from neighbors, and she is being treated in a hospital, he said.

A team of 35 rangers is trying to locate and kill the bear.

Bear sightings have risen in Mongolia, with 24 confirmed sightings in Ulaanbaatar so far this year, compared with just two in 2018 and one in 2019, Munkhbayar said. Across Mongolia, 754 bear sightings have been reported in 11 provinces and the capital in 2026. Of those, 80% involved cubs or female bears accompanied by cubs.

Investigations are underway to determine what has caused the rise in sightings. Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are seeking to procure tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/