Quick Actions Of Companion Teachers Save Students From Grizzly Attacks In British Columbia

Photo illustration. (Doc. Pexels)

JAKARTA The gripzzly bear's sudden attack on a group of school students in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, November 21, was not lethal thanks to the readiness and swift action of the accompanying teachers.

Authorities praised the teachers as "true heroes" who used bear sprayers and bear expulsion sound makers (bear bangers) to get rid of the wild animals.

Quoted from CBSNews, Saturday, November 22, the incident that occurred during school activities along a path near Bella Coola's community, a valley between the Coastal Mountains and Queen Charlotte Sound, resulted in a total of four people being rushed to hospital. BC Emergency Health Services reported two people were seriously injured and two seriously injured, while seven others were treated at the scene. Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Provincial Park, confirmed that three children and one adult were still hospitalized on Friday.

Kevin Van Damme of the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) stated that an attack involving a large group of people like this was "very rare" and asserted that teachers' actions had clearly "avoided more severe injuries." Minister Davidson specifically gave awards to teachers, saying, "Their actions deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. They are very ready, and they are true heroes."

Meanwhile, authorities are currently gathering evidence at the scene to identify and capture the bear. Van Damme stressed the danger of the situation with the bear still roaming freely, and asked residents and visitors in the area known as the outdoor activity area to stay indoors. Nuxalk Nation, the indigenous people who manage the area, asked everyone to "avoid all footpaths."

Responding to the incident, Achsalcta School, an independent institution run by Nuxalk Nation, announced school closures on Monday and provided counseling services. A mother, Veronica Schoner, told The Associated Press that her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in a fourth and fifth-class group who was attacked, and even "flagged his fur" as the bear ran through. He also mentioned one of the teachers was bearing "most of the burden of attack" in an attempt to stop the animal.

This incident has sparked debate over wildlife safety and management protocols. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations called for reconsiderations on preventive measures, including respecting the knowledge of indigenous peoples. On the other hand, the BC Wildlife Federation attributes an increase in attacks like this to the ban on gripzzly hunting in the province since 2017, noting that the number of bear reports to COS has doubled. However, Minister Davidson said it was too early to consider lifting the gripzzly hunting ban.