Autopsy confirms bear killed woman

[Animal 0]

Autopsy confirms bear killed woman
Joel Kom and Kerry Williamson, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007

A Calgary woman was indeed killed by a black bear as she was mountain biking
in the Panorama area, an autopsy has found.

All signs pointed to Robin Kochorek being killed by the bear sometime
Saturday or Sunday, but Tuesday's autopsy made it definitive.

"The pathologist confirmed that the bear was responsible for her death,"
said B.C. conservation officer Paul Visentin.

The results make Kochorek the Panorama area's first victim of a fatal bear
mauling.

She had been found halfway down the mountain Sunday being guarded by a
small, brown-nosed black bear about half a kilometre off Panorama's marked
trails.

Visentin said he didn't yet know whether the autopsy shed any light on
whether she was attacked from behind.

At Panorama on Tuesday, Kochorek's death wasn't changing much for any of the
mountain bikers venturing into the wilderness.

"It wouldn't change (my plans) if I go biking," said Gary Senior, who was
visiting from the United Kingdom with his 15-year-old son, Jonty. "I just
wouldn't go off the trail on my own."

Mark Schlosser, who came from Calgary to bike down Panorama, said running
into wildlife is part of the risk mountain bikers take.

"We're going into their home," he said. "It comes with the territory."

"It's obvious that they can't shoot all the bears," said Greg Dietrich, also
from Calgary. "It's just part of being here."

Several bikers pointed to the fact Kochorek had been alone as a lesson for
everyone else. She had been with friends but, said family members, decided
to err on the side of caution and go down a beginner's trail instead of the
harder one her friends were taking.

"Stay where you're supposed to stay and stay in groups," said Wes Priebe,
who was visiting from Sherwood Park.

The Kochorek family told the Herald they still have many questions about the
31-year-old speech language pathologist's death, including why the cycling
trails remained open despite reports of an aggressive bear in the vicinity
on the day of the incident.

"For us, we're asking the questions that we feel we have every right to ask
-- we want answers to things at some point," said Michael Kochorek, Robin's
older brother.

"If the situation could have been avoided or prevented in any way -- if
there's something my sister could have done, or someone else could have done
-- we want to know."

However, Michael said those questions can wait. For now, the family is
focusing on her funeral, to be held in Calgary on Friday.

"We need to focus on her life and her memory, and I'm focused on my family
and their mourning and grieving process, making sure everybody is supported
and has an opportunity to grieve in the way they need to," said Michael.

"We'll deal with other things later."

He said his family has been overwhelmed, but not surprised, by an outpouring
of support from family, friends and even strangers.

Close to 20 people have written on a Calgary Herald condolence website,
while Robin's Facebook page has been deluged with messages of grief and
support.

"It's a testament to my sister and her character and the quality of person
she was, and that's why we are going to miss her," said Michael.

"People talk about the footprint that my sister left behind. We're not
surprised by that -- we know how special she was."

Kochorek's funeral will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 640 19th
Ave. N.W., at 7 p.m.


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