Bear shot after tracks were reported near Tomsk poultry farm

Hunters shot a brown bear near the Mezhininovskaya poultry farm in Tomsk district after reports of numerous tracks in the area.

The regional hunting department said it had approved action to manage bear numbers near the settlements of Svetly and Kopylovo.

Bear encounters with people have increased in Tomsk region since August, with fires and a poor harvest of wild foods cited as reasons bears are coming closer to people.

The region’s bear population was reported at about 11,000, and three residents have died in encounters with bears.

The regional government introduced an emergency-readiness regime on September 25 and announced a 30,000-ruble payment for each bear killed from October 1.

A separate report said a female bear and cubs were seen at an apiary near Lyazgino.

Hunters are due to check that sighting, while officials ask residents to report wildlife encounters and contact police or emergency services if an animal is inside a settlement.