G7. Authorities step up protection against bears

The choice of a remote location, far from urban centres, to host the seven leaders of the G7 countries in Canada was no coincidence. Normally, the security forces of the host country have to worry about demonstrations outside the venue, setting up a security perimeter to ensure that the meetings take place without any disturbance. This year, the event is being held in a secluded location in the middle of the Canadian mountains in the state of Alberta, where there is little risk of human interruption. However, the authorities had to prepare for a threat that is new to these leaders' meetings: wildlife.

The small village of Kananaskis is home to 133 people, according to the state’s 2024 registry. Between the cabins clustered in the center, the lakes and the forests, life in this village extends beyond humans. In May of this year, a bear alert was issued in the area where Donald Trump, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz and Mark Carney gathered. The report accompanying the alert states that there are about 65 bears living in the vicinity of the village — some of them aggressive.

“Grizzly bears are one of the biggest concerns, but the team is prepared for all species of wild animals,” a spokeswoman for the state’s Ministry of Public Security told AFP ahead of the summit. To ensure a safe environment for the world leaders, security officials have set up a dedicated perimeter to keep bears out, with “electric fences” measuring over two meters high being installed around the enclosure.

In addition to these physical fences to prevent these uninvited guests from entering the meeting room, Canadian authorities have also set up “thermal cameras, drones and police dogs” specifically trained for bear interactions. The drones will be used to monitor the presence of wildlife in the vicinity of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course, and they also admit that they may spot cougars, moose, wolves and deer.

In preparation for the G7 summit, which began on June 15 and ends this Tuesday, June 17, access to Kananaskis County has been completely cut off, both by road and by air, to ensure maximum peace and quiet for the seven leaders meeting in Canada to discuss the most pressing issues in international politics.