A video captured the moment a family managed to stay still and didn't panic when a bear got onto their picnic table and devoured their food at Chipinque Ecological Park in Mexico

This is the incredible moment a brave mum shields her son's face and manages to remain still after a bear hops onto their picnic table and devours their meal before leaving the area.

Footage captured at Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, Mexico, shows how the woman remained calm and did not panic during the face-to-face encounter. In the video, the black bear can be seen eating trays of enchiladas and tacos laid out on a picnic table.

As the bear eats, the woman has an arm around the boy's body and another on his face to protect him from the bear. At some point, the animal briefly gets near the child's head but appears to ignore the presence of humans and continues to eat the food on the table.

The bear encounter lasted about two minutes (

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At some point, the camera turns around as the bear walks across the table, and another person sitting on the opposite side of the bench, appearing terrified as the animal briefly gets close to her face. Everyone remained quiet and did not move while the bear went through their food, skipping over several drinks and knocking down a bottle.

The bear can then be seen getting off the table and walking over to an empty tray to search for more food, as a family member continued to calmly film the encounter, which lasted more than two minutes. The bear eventually left the area and nobody was injured.

The video was published on TikTok and went viral, getting over nine million views. The caption, in Spanish, reads "Cuando vas a echarte un taco a Chipinque", which means" When you go to get a taco in Chipinque".

Many people praised the woman for staying calm and protecting the child, while others wondered whether the camera person was invisible to the bear. A TikTok user wrote: "I think the mom was the real bear here protecting her young."

Another added: "A Mother’s love is HUGE!!!! I could cry. Look at how the boy feels safe with mom. Look at mom facing fear." One more commented: "That mother is an angel. She did her best to keep that boy safe. She didn’t even cover her face."

The National Park Service (NPS) advises people to stay calm and remain still in case you come across a bear. It is also important to avoid screaming as the bear might think it is the sound of a prey animal. You should not run or make sudden movements.

But the NPS also says human food can be a danger for people and also harmful to bears because the animals can lose their preference for natural food sources and their fear of humans. This also means that over time, bears may begin approaching people in search for food - and can potentially become aggressive, unpredictable, and dangerous. These bears are also often euthanised as they are considered a risk to public safety.

It adds: "Depending on which national park you decide to visit and what types of bears are present there, regulations differ for how best to store your food. Some parks require food lockers or bear-resistant food containers ('bear canisters'), while others allow visitors to hang food from a tree in a food bag. Bear canisters should always be locked and stored properly when not being used. Not following those rules may result in fines, confiscation of food, towing of cars, or other penalties to protect visitors, property, and bears. Read below to learn some common food storage tips that can help you have a more enjoyable visit to your national park."

In picnic areas, people are advised to keep their food within arm's reach, securing it when arriving at your campsite and avoid storing it in your tent or backpack. You should also wash dishes immediately after eating.