Alert issued in Jilin province after black bear attacks

Authorities warned about the risk of wildlife attacks following an incident in Wangqing county, Jilin province, where a black bear injured two rangers.

In an announcement released on its WeChat account on Friday, the management bureau of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has urged local communities to avoid unnecessary entry into the park's core protection area. As conservation efforts strengthen, the populations of tigers, leopards and bears continue to grow, increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife encounters, the management bureau said.

According to the announcement, Fan Huizhong, a ranger from the Lanjia protection station under the national park's Wangqing protection center, was attacked by a black bear on March 10 during a routine mountain patrol. He was walking ahead of his team when the bear suddenly emerged from behind a tree and lunged at him.

Fan sustained severe injuries, including deep lacerations to his head and a serious injury to his left eye. Both of his hands suffered penetrating wounds, and his back and arms were also wounded.

Nearby, Dong Shoubin, another patrol team member, rushed to his aid. Using a wooden stick, he fought off the bear and managed to rescue Fan. Dong also sustained injuries, with a deep laceration on the back of his head.

The management bureau said Wangqing protection center immediately activated its emergency response plan, ensuring the wounded rangers were transported to the hospital.

As of the afternoon of March 11, Fan had undergone eye repositioning surgery, and facial sutures were performed. His eye was largely preserved, and his condition remained stable. Dong's head wound had also been stitched, and he was under hospital observation in stable condition.

Following the incident, the management bureau notified all branches and protection centers, emphasizing the increased risk of wildlife attacks during the winter-to-spring transition. This period marks the end of hibernation for bears and the peak breeding season for many large predators.

"Safety should be prioritized, and predators' activity should be closely monitored," the announcement stated, "Patrol routes should be carefully planned to avoid key habitats of large carnivores such as bears and tigers".

The national park also stressed that patrol on mountains should be based on a team with no fewer than five members.

In a separate incident on March 11, a black bear weighing approximately 150 kilograms broke into a villager's home in Ganzi, Sichuan province, in search of food.

The black bear is a second-class nationally protected animal in China. Police have reminded residents to avoid provoking or frightening bears and to refrain from using illegal hunting methods, such as traps and metal cages. If a bear is spotted in a residential area, residents should immediately contact forestry authorities or local public security authorities for assistance.