Mongolia has advised schools and kindergartens to suspend outdoor excursions to forests and mountainous locations following a deadly bear attack and a growing number of sightings near residential communities.

The warning was issued by the country’s Ministry of Education on Friday, urging schools to avoid group autumn trips and keep children away from areas where bears have been spotted.

Authorities also cautioned against allowing children to enter forested or mountainous locations without adult supervision, particularly in places considered high-risk.

Official figures show that Mongolia recorded 754 bear sightings nationwide this year, with about 80 per cent involving cubs or female bears accompanied by their young.

Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital, has recorded 24 confirmed sightings so far, a significant increase from two in 2018 and one in 2019.

The restrictions follow an attack on Wednesday night in Bayanzurkh district, on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, where a bear killed a man in his 40s and seriously injured a woman in her 50s inside their home.

Authorities deployed 35 personnel, including rangers and police officers, alongside drones equipped with thermal imaging technology to track down the animal.

An official from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change confirmed on Friday that the bear had been found and killed near the scene of the attack.

Preliminary assessments indicated that the animal was a male bear, approximately six years old, according to ministry secretary Batbayar Shurenchuluun.

In response to the growing number of encounters, the government has approved bear hunting in designated locations and opened an investigation into the factors behind the increase in sightings.

The development comes after authorities examined a bear killed in Khentii province in eastern Mongolia and found no food in its stomach. The finding raised concerns about food availability for bears.

In September, the government prohibited the collection of nuts and berries in mountainous areas for the remainder of the year.

Experts say increasing bear encounters can have several causes, including changes in food supplies potentially associated with climate change and the declining populations of rural communities.

Japan has also experienced a rise in bear sightings and attacks in recent years, including incidents near towns and cities.