Hrishikesh Koloth, a 27-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from Kerala, India, has been identified as the man killed in a rare fatal black bear attack in northern Saskatchewan on May 8.
Koloth was working as a contract technician at a uranium exploration site near Nordbye Lake, about 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, when the attack happened. The property, known as Zoo Bay, is operated by Vancouver-based UraniumX Discovery Corp.
His older brother, Arjun Koloth, said Hrishikesh had moved to Canada three years ago with a clear goal: to build a career in mixed martial arts and one day fight professionally.
“That was his dream. That’s why he came here,” Arjun said. “He wanted to fight in the UFC.”
MMA Fighter From India Was Training in B.C.
Originally from Kerala, Hrishikesh had trained in MMA for more than 10 years, first in India and later in Canada. He had been living in Penticton, B.C., with Arjun and trained at Skoden Martial Arts.
Arjun said those around his brother believed he had the discipline and courage to go far in the sport.
“Everybody had high hopes on him,” Arjun said. “It shouldn’t have been like this.”
He said police came to his door at 4 a.m. PDT to deliver the news.
“An RCMP came to my door and knocked and let me know that your brother has passed away in Saskatchewan,” he said.
Black Bear Killed After Fatal Attack
A civilian at the site shot and killed the bear after the attack. The animal was later taken to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon for a necropsy.
UraniumX Discovery Corp. confirmed one of its contractors had died and offered its thoughts and prayers to the family.
Arjun said Hrishikesh was expected to begin work as a boxing coach in Vancouver in June. He said the job at the uranium site was never the final goal.
“Job is just a means to an end,” Arjun said. “The end was to fight.”
Brother Remembers Hrishikesh Koloth as a Warrior
Arjun described his brother as humble, fearless and deeply devoted to his family. He said Hrishikesh wanted to support and care for his parents and faced every challenge with the mindset of a fighter.
“He’s not scared of anything,” Arjun said. “Two days notice before a fight? Doesn’t matter. Opponent heavier than him? Doesn’t matter. Win or lose, he just wanted to fight.”
Arjun has travelled to Kerala for his brother’s funeral and to be with family.
“I wanted him to be known for what he does, how he was. I can’t do anything anymore, so at least I could do this for him,” he said.
“I want him to be remembered for what he does. Innocent heart, fighter’s soul. Warrior. And I’d just like to say he fought [the] bear. That’s all … bear didn’t attack him. He attacked the bear.”
The attack marks only the fourth fatal bear incident in Saskatchewan’s recorded history. The previous fatal case happened in 2020, when 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed near her family’s cabin north of Buffalo Narrows.
