Public caution released after black bear attack

Authorities have warned about an increased risk of wildlife attacks after a black bear injured two rangers in Wangqing county, Jilin province.

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

On March 10, Fan Huizhong, a ranger from the Lanjia protection station, was attacked by a black bear during a routine mountain patrol. He was walking ahead of his team when the bear 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. He also received penetrating wounds to both hands and injuries to his back and arms.

Dong Shoubin, another patrol team member, rushed to Fan's aid and fought off the bear with a wooden stick. Dong also sustained a deep laceration to the back of his head.

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

By the afternoon of the next day, Fan had undergone eye repositioning surgery and facial sutures. His eye was largely preserved, and his condition remained stable. In addition, Dong's head wound had been stitched, and he remained 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 said. "Patrol routes should be carefully planned to avoid key habitats of large carnivores such as bears and tigers."

In a separate incident on March 11, a black bear weighing approximately 150 kilograms broke into a villager's home in Garze, 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.