On Monday, September 23, 2024, a brown bear ravaged a secluded village in the Primorsky region of Russia, causing the deaths of two men and dozens of dogs.
The father, aged 87, and his 56-year-old son fell victim to the bear when it invaded their home, following the slaughter of 35 stray dogs at a nearby shelter. This brutal incident instigated fear among the local community and prompted an immediate response from local authorities.
The bear’s violent rampage took place in Luchegorsk, a village situated near Russia’s southeastern border, notorious for its close proximity to the wilderness. Prior to the deadly attack, the bear displayed abnormal aggressive behavior, leading experts to believe it was suffering from rabies or a severe injury. Sergey Aramilev, a bear specialist, stated, “A healthy bear would definitely not do this. It would not even come close to a populated area.” The bear’s unusual behavior and visible malnourishment hinted at a serious health issue.
In the initial phase of its rampage, the bear breached the weak wooden fence of a local shelter, where the stray dogs were confined within their kennels. Olga Zamyshlyaeva, the shelter’s director, said: “The bear came in at night, and 35 dogs died. We don’t have security here. The dogs are kept in kennels.” The shelter, situated in a wooded area, was ill-prepared for such an assault.
After the dog massacre, the bear proceeded to the home of the father and son, who were unable to protect themselves from the powerful beast. Their bodies were later discovered, exhibiting evidence of severe mauling. Law enforcement and hunting inspectors moved swiftly to secure the area and imposed a curfew to safeguard other villagers from further attacks.
Following a brief search, the bear was found and killed by inspectors. Officials theorized that the animal’s deteriorating health condition had driven it into a desperate and dangerous state.
Bear incidents are a significant concern in remote and bear-populated regions of Russia, such as Siberia and the Pacific Coast. Approximately half of the world’s brown bear population is found in Russia, and human-bear interactions have been documented for many years. From 1932 to 2017, more than 338 bear attacks on humans were recorded, with serious injuries and fatalities reported across the nation.
Most incidents predominantly occur in areas frequented by people for gathering wild resources or hiking, primarily during late summer and fall when bears are hyperphagic and storing fat for hibernation. Solitary bears, as opposed to females with cubs, are often the culprits behind fatal attacks. While some bears may be conditioned to human food, most predatory attacks happen without any signs of desire for human food sources.
