Australian tourists mauled by bear accuse Banff Park of negligence
By Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald September 16, 2010 6:42 AM
An American bear expert is expected to testify today that Banff National Park wardens failed to take action to prevent a mauling in 1995.
Two Australian tourists who were mauled by a grizzly while tenting at a Lake Louise campground are blaming the federal government for not protecting them marauding bears, a Calgary court has heard this week.
Andrew Brodie, 36, and Owen Hereford, who turns 37 today, were attacked while sleeping in a tent at about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 1995.
Brodie says he was pinned to the floor, then dragged out of the tent by the bear, suffering significant injuries before the animal turned on Hereford. Brodie was then able to stun the bear by striking it on the nose with a rock.
He says he sustained a fractured right elbow and extensive injuries to the muscles in both legs.
Hereford received significant injuries to the left forearm and left leg. Both men had numerous puncture wounds, bruising and scarring as a result of the attack.
Brodie told court Wednesday that wardens later shot the bear that attacked them, as well as a cub.
The men are suing the federal government for $75,000 in general damages, plus potentially well over a million dollars in lost past and future earnings. They claim the government failed to ensure that visitors to the park -- particularly those using the campground -- were safe from wildlife.
They allege the government, which administers the park, failed to design the campground and use protective devises such as fencing, alarms, barriers and guards or supervisors to prevent entry an attacks by bears.
As well, they claim, the government failed to design and implement appropriate bear management plans to protect campers.
In spite of earlier attacks on tents, including one in which a bear ripped apart a tent and attacked three people on Sept. 9, 1995, and a cyclist in the campground, they say, officials did not respond to the danger and did not deal with the problem prior to the attack on Brodie and Hereford.
The bear management expert from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is expected to review the prior attacks on other campers and park users and discuss how, in light of the history, the government failed to take proper action. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The trial before Court of Queen's Bench Justice Ged Hawco is scheduled to last for three weeks, but could be concluded by the end of next week.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/cars/Austra...2511/story.html
So a national park should have fences,guards,alarms, etc. to protect and separate tourists from the wildlife? There are places like that already, they are called zoos.
By Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald September 16, 2010 6:42 AM
An American bear expert is expected to testify today that Banff National Park wardens failed to take action to prevent a mauling in 1995.
Two Australian tourists who were mauled by a grizzly while tenting at a Lake Louise campground are blaming the federal government for not protecting them marauding bears, a Calgary court has heard this week.
Andrew Brodie, 36, and Owen Hereford, who turns 37 today, were attacked while sleeping in a tent at about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 1995.
Brodie says he was pinned to the floor, then dragged out of the tent by the bear, suffering significant injuries before the animal turned on Hereford. Brodie was then able to stun the bear by striking it on the nose with a rock.
He says he sustained a fractured right elbow and extensive injuries to the muscles in both legs.
Hereford received significant injuries to the left forearm and left leg. Both men had numerous puncture wounds, bruising and scarring as a result of the attack.
Brodie told court Wednesday that wardens later shot the bear that attacked them, as well as a cub.
The men are suing the federal government for $75,000 in general damages, plus potentially well over a million dollars in lost past and future earnings. They claim the government failed to ensure that visitors to the park -- particularly those using the campground -- were safe from wildlife.
They allege the government, which administers the park, failed to design the campground and use protective devises such as fencing, alarms, barriers and guards or supervisors to prevent entry an attacks by bears.
As well, they claim, the government failed to design and implement appropriate bear management plans to protect campers.
In spite of earlier attacks on tents, including one in which a bear ripped apart a tent and attacked three people on Sept. 9, 1995, and a cyclist in the campground, they say, officials did not respond to the danger and did not deal with the problem prior to the attack on Brodie and Hereford.
The bear management expert from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is expected to review the prior attacks on other campers and park users and discuss how, in light of the history, the government failed to take proper action. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The trial before Court of Queen's Bench Justice Ged Hawco is scheduled to last for three weeks, but could be concluded by the end of next week.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/cars/Austra...2511/story.html
So a national park should have fences,guards,alarms, etc. to protect and separate tourists from the wildlife? There are places like that already, they are called zoos.
