Russia sets brown bear cull limit of up to 30%, ministry quoted as saying

Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources was quoted on Friday as saying the Russian government has set a cull limit of up to 30% of brown bear populations. The stated aim is to keep bear numbers in check. Reuters and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) both reported the ministry's statement.

Bear attacks have killed 36 people in Russia this year, according to both outlets' reports of the statement. The reports do not make clear whether the 36 figure comes from the ministry itself.

What else is reported

According to SCMP, the ministry's statement was quoted by the state news agency RIA. SCMP reported that, according to the statement as quoted by RIA, the limit is already registered with Russia's Justice Ministry.

The statement as quoted by RIA also cites a figure of more than 12,000 related to events since the beginning of the year. SCMP's report cuts off before saying what this figure refers to.

What is disputed

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any dispute over the measure or the figures.

What each side says

Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources says the limit is meant to better control bear populations and reduce the number of attacks, according to its statement as quoted by RIA and reported by SCMP.

The reports do not include any reaction from conservation groups, scientists, hunters or other parties.

What is not known

• Which regions or bear populations the cull applies to.
• What population estimates the 30% figure is based on.
• Over what period the limit applies, whether it is a one-time or annual cap, and when it takes effect.
• Where the 36 fatal attacks happened, and how this year's total compares with previous years.
• The legal instrument used, beyond its registration with the Justice Ministry.
• The full text of the ministry's statement.

About the sourcing

Both reports describe the same ministry statement, quoted on Friday. Only SCMP says it was quoted by the state news agency RIA; Reuters' summary does not say who quoted it. SCMP's opening sentence is nearly identical to Reuters' wording and appeared about three hours later. This suggests shared wire copy, although SCMP's summary does not name Reuters. Neither outlet says it obtained the statement directly from the ministry.

Analysis

The measure, as described, ties wildlife management directly to public safety after a reported 36 deaths this year. Its practical effect depends on details the reports do not include: which regions it covers, how populations are estimated, and over what period the limit applies. If the figure is an upper limit rather than a target, actual culling could be well below 30%. Whether reducing bear numbers lowers the rate of attacks is not established in the reports. Because all coverage traces to one ministry statement, which SCMP says was relayed by a state agency, the full text or regional data would allow independent assessment of the policy's scope and basis.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.