A grizzly bear that launched an attack on a group of elementary school students and teachers in Canada last week, injuring 11 individuals, remains at large as conservation officers intensify their efforts to locate the animal.

The incident took place in Bella Coola, northwest of Vancouver, on Thursday afternoon.

During a field trip, a gathering of about 20 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Acwsalcta School, operated by the Nuxalk Nation, paused for lunch on a wooded trail situated across the highway from their school when the bear attacked.

Out of the group, two individuals sustained critical injuries while two others were seriously harmed. Several teachers sprang into action, attempting to repel the grizzly using bear spray and a bear banger, a device that emits a loud noise to deter aggressive wildlife.

Veronica Schooner, whose child was among the students, informed the Associated Press that one teacher bore the brunt of the bear’s aggression and was among those airlifted from the scene by helicopter.

By Monday, the bear had not yet been apprehended. The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service announced that additional officers had joined the search efforts on Saturday to aid in the capture.

Two other grizzlies were also seen in the area when the attack took place, according to witness accounts. Conservation officers are attempting to locate and capture those bears as well.

Conservation Officer Service Inspector Kevin Van Damme urged locals to avoid the area, remain indoors and only travel by vehicle until further notice. 

The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service is continuing to search for a bear that attacked about 20 teachers and students

Traps and cameras have been set up as part of the search. Officers have also been assessing the site, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses and victims

‘I really need to stress how dangerous this situation is with this bear at large,’ he said. 

‘We can appreciate people want to be involved but this is a fluid and dangerous situation,’ he added in a post from the Conservation Officer Service Facebook Account. 

‘For the safety of residents and our officers, please avoid the area and allow them space to do their work.’

Traps and cameras have been set up as part of the search. Officers have also been assessing the site, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses and victims.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police Air Services helicopter with thermal imaging cameras has also been assisting in the search. 

Any bears that are captured will have their DNA tested to confirm whether they were involved in the attack, according to the Conservation Officer Service. Next steps will be determined in consultation with wildlife biologists and the provincial wildlife veterinarian with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service and Inspector Van Damme for comment.

Three seriously injured students and a teacher, who was gravely injured and suffered head trauma while fending off the bear, remained in Metro Vancouver hospitals for treatment over the weekend.

The group of teachers and students were from the Acwsalcta School, run by the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola, northwest of Vancouver

The grizzly bear injured 11 people, leaving two in critical condition and two more seriously hurt (stock image)

Conservation Officer Service Inspector Kevin Van Damme urged locals to avoid the area, remain indoors and only travel by vehicle until further notice

Seven other members of the group who were not as seriously hurt received first aid at the scene but did not require hospitalization, according to British Columbia Emergency Health Services.

Noel Pootlass, the head Nuxalk hereditary chief, told the Canadian Press that all of the students and teachers are relatives of his. He said the teacher who suffered the most serious injuries was his cousin. 

‘I’m so thankful for the three teachers who intervened,’ he said. 

‘My cousin was jumping on the bear, kicking it, while another teacher was spraying with bear spray two feet from its face. He used two cans on it and it wasn’t fazed. So, one woman teacher was using her crutches to hit the bear.’

A woman who said her granddaughter was one of the students taken to the hospital wrote on social media that the child needed 100 stitches, suffered three broken bones and had to undergo emergency surgery.

Veronica Schooner said her ten-year-old son Alvarez, who was part of the group, was so close to the animal ‘he even felt its fur.’

‘He was running for his life,’ she told local media, adding that her son was left ‘traumatized’ by the attack on his friends. 

‘He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else.’

Veronica Schooner said her ten-year-old son Alvarez, who was part of the group, was left ‘traumatized’ by the attack

Pootlass said the bear likely attacked because of disruptions to the ecosystem, citing recent clear-cutting and forest fires pushing bears from their habitat and making them ‘desperate.’

Students were expected to return to class at the school Tuesday.

At a news conference, British Columbia Premier David Eby praised the teachers who jumped into action to protect the students. 

‘I want to thank the teachers for their heroism,’ he said, before praising ‘their willingness to confront this vicious animal.’

The Premier said he hopes all those affected will have a quick recovery.