Mongolia’s northernmost Selenge Province is allowing members of the public to use guns against bears in self-defense. It’s illegal to hunt bears in Mongolia, but the authorities of the northern province are allowing the use of guns against bears for self defence or protecting another person.

The decision comes after a 55-year-old man and his 8-year-old son were killed in a bear attack in Yeruu Soum of Selenge Province on Thursday. Since 20 August, the herder family had repeatedly been told by officials to move their ger (yurt) from an area known to be inhabited by bears and other wild animals – however, these warnings were ignored.

According to Mongolian officials, many black bears have migrated from Russia into northern parts of Mongolia due to severe forest fires in Siberia this summer, and the killer bear may be one of them. A total of 12 cases of bears entering areas where people are living, have been registered in Selenge Province since 20 August.

Mongolia has over 500 bears.