Bear populations in Primorye nearly doubled over ten years, Russian agencies say
In short
Two Russian state news agencies reported that bear populations in Primorye have roughly doubled. RIA Novosti said the bear population grew almost twofold over ten years, while TASS specified that brown and Himalayan bear populations have doubled since 2016.
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RIA Novosti reported on 6 October 2026 that the bear population in Primorye had grown almost twofold over ten years. The official Russian agency published the report at 04:48 local time, according to the document. [ 1 ]
TASS, another official Russian news agency, reported at 05:49 local time that brown and Himalayan bear populations in Primorye had doubled since 2016. Neither report included absolute population figures, the methodology behind the comparison, or the reasons for the increase. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The reports point to a significant increase in bear populations in Primorye, a region in Russia’s Far East. Because both outlets are official, the figures carry the weight of government-reported data, though the documents do not explain what drove the change or how it might affect conservation or local communities.
Key facts
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact population counts and the baseline data for the ten-year comparison are not given. Both documents provide only relative growth; no absolute numbers or methodology are stated.
- The documents do not state what caused the population increase or how it is being measured. Neither report includes causes or measurement details.