Russia declares war on bears

Russia is taking urgent measures to control its brown bear population following a surge in attacks that has claimed at least 22 lives this year. With the bear population doubling to 308,000 over the last three decades, animals are increasingly encroaching into residential areas due to food shortages caused by poor forest harvests and wildfires. The government is considering lifting hunting quotas and empowering local authorities to manage the rising threat as public anxiety grows.