Hunting for bears and happiness amid the epidemic

Fewer people are found on Canberra's streets as COVID-19 spreads, but a new population has become increasingly visible in the city－teddy bears.

The "bear-hunt" campaign has come to the Australian capital to create unexpected social-distancing experiences for people, especially children, while the pandemic disrupts their lives.

Different colors and shapes of the stuffed toys have been placed in windows, on trees or in gardens.

"The bear-hunt experience has provided great excitement to my two little girls, 5 and 2 years old," says 32-year-old Rachael McCoy.

"It encourages them to get active and go walking around our streets."

She learned about the campaign from Facebook.

The hunt was inspired by British author Michael Rosen's book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, the BBC reports.

"Yesterday, we went out, and we saw about 10 houses (with the teddies)," says McCoy.

"They were gorgeous displays. And people came to the front door and they waved to our kids, and they were so excited."

She says the experience was especially good for the children, who are unable to go to school and daycare.