Four grizzly bears have been killed after investigators linked them to the deaths of a woman and her adult daughter in western Canada.
This was reported by DW.
According to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service, DNA analysis carried out by the authorities confirmed that a female grizzly and her three yearling cubs were responsible for the deaths of 48-year-old Jenny Balkarras and her 20-year-old daughter, Cely Reid.
All four animals were killed in the interests of public safety.
“Our investigation also showed that this attack was likely an instance of predatory behaviour – something that, I should note, occurs extremely rarely. In other words, we do not know how it all began, but we do know how it ended,” said officer Jeff Tyre.
Balkarras and Reid went for a walk near their home close to the town of Bella Coola, a remote community located about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver.
Their remains were found near a walking trail, about 150 metres apart.
Although DNA analysis confirmed the involvement of the female bear and her yearling cubs in the deaths of Reid and Balkarras, investigators also determined that these animals were not connected to another grizzly bear attack that occurred in the same area in November last year.
During last year’s attack, a bear charged at a group of around 20 primary school pupils and teachers, injuring four of them.