Authorities in Canada have euthanised a grizzly bear after it killed a married couple and their pet.
Park rangers in Banff National Park, on Alberta’s western border with British Columbia, received a GPS alert indicating a bear attack had taken place on Friday at approximately 8pm local time near the Red Deer River Valley.
The victims, who have not been identified, were reportedly a married couple and experienced hikers.
Their dog is also thought to have been killed in the attack.
Banff National Park said in a statement: ‘Parks Canada immediately mobilised a wildlife human attack response team whose members are specially trained in responding to wildlife attacks.
‘Weather conditions at the time did not allow for helicopter use, and the response team travelled through the night to the location by ground.’
The response team arrived in the area at around 1AM on Saturday, and the bear was subsequently ‘euthanised to ensure public safety’.
The statement added: ‘This is a tragic incident, and Parks Canada wishes to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.’
Kim Tichener, a family friend and also founder of a bear safety organisation, told press: ‘They were outdoors people who were very used to going out into the backcountry.
‘I’m sure it’s an incredible shock for their family and I just really feel for them.
‘It’s a horrible situation.’
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers later arrived at the scene to assist with transporting the bodies of the deceased to Sundre, Alberta.
The attack comes just weeks after another grizzly bear, suspected of fatally wounding a woman earlier in July near West Yellowstone in the US state of Montana, was similarly euthanised after breaking into a home with its cub to steal a container of dog food.
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