Fatal bear attack in Russian Federation: A case report

• Published in: Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2025-02, Vol.72, p.102556, Article 102556
• Main Authors: Angelakopoulos, Nikolaos, Vlasyuk, Igor Valentinovich, Balla, Sudheer Babu, Merdietio Boedi, Rizky, Zolotenkova, Galina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bite mark; Case report; Postmortem examination; Wounds and injuries
• ISSN: 1344-6223; 1873-4162; 1873-4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102556

•A male hunter was fatally attacked by a brown bear in the Khabarovsk region, emphasizing the dangers of human-bear conflicts.•Describes the nature of injuries inflicted by bears, including extensive lacerations and bite marks.•Despite severe facial injuries, the victim was identified through distinctive dental features, highlighting dental data's forensic value.•Emphasizes the importance of specialized forensic knowledge in wildlife-related fatalities. Human-bear conflicts are a growing concern globally, with Russia harboring a significant population of brown bears. This case report details a fatal encounter between a male hunter and a brown bear in the greater Khabarovsk region. On October 2015, the hunter’s body was discovered approximately 400 m from a deceased brown bear, indicating a deadly confrontation. Forensic examination revealed extensive trauma and varied patterns of injuries, with the cause of death attributed to mixed shock from traumatic injuries and acute blood loss. Despite the limited dental information due to the missing maxilla, positive identification was achieved through the unique dental patterns in the victim’s mandible. This study emphasizes the need for specialized forensic knowledge in wildlife-related fatalities, highlighting the importance of accurate post-mortem examinations and the critical role of dental data in positively identifying victims under challenging circumstances.