A bear has killed a man and seriously injured a woman after attacking them in their home near the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar.
Police say the incident happened in the Bayanzurkh district overnight on Wednesday in a traditional Mongolian nomadic tent-like structure known as a ger.
The man, in his 40s, was killed, while the woman, in her 50s, managed to flee and raise the alarm with neighbours. She is in a serious condition in hospital, said city official Munkhbayar M.
Sightings of bears around humans are becoming more common in Mongolia, for reasons that include climate change and food scarcity.
A team of rangers is searching for the bear while officials have warned locals to be vigilant and report any sightings. There have been 24 bear sightings near the capital this year alone, compared to just two in 2018, said Munkhbayar.
Videos of bears damaging gers and attacking livestock have gone viral on Mongolian social media, highlighting the increase in bear and human interaction across the country.
Bear-hunting permits across eight provinces have been issued and officials are seeking tranquiliser dart guns to aid rangers in rural areas, AFP reports. An increasing number of the population lives in the capital or other major urban areas.
The Eurasian brown bear (file photo) is found in the region around Ulaanbaatar.
