Following bear attack, officials in Primorsky Krai cancel outdoor recess for all schoolchildren

Officials in Primorsky Krai have restricted schoolchildren's access to the outdoors, following a bear's attack on a local pregnant woman. Kindergarteners are now forbidden from playing outside, and schoolchildren are being kept indoors during recess. Even high school students are now required to be dropped off and picked up by their parents.

Neither investigators nor hunters have been able to locate the bear responsible for the recent attack. Police have granted specialists the right to shoot the bear, if it is aggressive when found.

According to reports, the bear wandered onto a highway during thick fog, where it was struck by a minivan. After limping away, the animal encountered a pregnant woman, whom it attacked, before running away, frightened.

Officials say they have received a large number of phone calls reporting the location of the bear, though none of the tips has led to the animal. Several frightened children have also reportedly phoned the authorities, believing they'd spotted the beast.

“Due to the threat of attacks on people by wild animals in and around populated areas, officials are taking tighter control of the situation, as well as additional measures to prevent the occurrence of accidents,” said a decision by a Kirov region government commission.

Primamedia