Man Shouts, Bear Flees, but Another Bear Attacks: New Details Emerge

On June 4, an extraordinary and tragic incident occurred in the village of Arates, Vayots Dzor. The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values (FPWC) reported new details regarding the bear attack in Arates.

“A citizen encountered a brown bear while collecting wild plants, which injured him. Rangers from the FPWC arrived at the scene to assist the citizen, directing the Ministry of Internal Affairs staff to the location,” the report stated.

According to preliminary data, the 38-year-old citizen who encountered the bear is a resident of Arates and often goes into the fields to collect mulberries. Today, he went to collect mulberries in a pasture and spotted a bear about 20-30 meters away. He shouted loudly at the animal, causing it to flee. Unfortunately, the citizen did not notice that there was another bear in the area, and he was attacked by the second bear.

The incident occurred in the Hermon administrative territory. The resident of Arates sustained various degrees of injuries and is currently receiving medical assistance at the Yeghegnadzor Medical Center.

The FPWC once again urges every citizen interacting with wildlife to be very vigilant and attentive, and also to carry protective gear with them.

It’s worth noting that the FPWC has been studying human-wildlife conflict in the Ararat and Vayots Dzor regions for years, focusing on actions aimed at mitigating conflicts. In this context, the Foundation has supported Vayots Dzor communities by providing electric shepherds to protect their orchards, beehives, and property, partially compensating for damages, creating alternative jobs for locals in the conservation field, educating target groups, and involving them in conservation activities.

A new program called “Mitigating the Escalating Human-Wildlife Conflict Due to Climate Change in Armenia” has recently started. Over the next three years, FPWC specialists will study the impact of climate change on the exacerbation of this issue, looking at how sharp temperature fluctuations and relatively warm winters affect animal awakening from hibernation, food shortages, and other related problems.

It should be emphasized that the brown bear (Ursus arctos) is listed in the Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia and the IUCN Red List (ver. 3.1) with a status of “Least Concern.” According to IUCN criteria, it is assessed as “Vulnerable” VU B2ab (iii,iv). According to KGA data, it has a very large range (Eurasia and North America) and is found in the regions of Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik, Tavush, Lori, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik,” the foundation’s statement added.