A young grizzly bear named Fitz at the Calgary Zoo managed to exit his habitat early one Sunday morning, according to a spokesperson from the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. The incident triggered the activation of emergency response procedures, with the zoo’s animal care and security teams, as well as the Calgary Police Service, swiftly responding to the situation.
Communications manager Cindy Antonello confirmed that Fitz was safely immobilized and relocated back to his designated area without any harm to visitors, staff, volunteers, or other animals. The incident occurred before the zoo opened to the public, leading to a temporary closure of the Wild Canada exhibit where the bears reside. The area was thoroughly assessed before reopening later in the day.
Antonello mentioned that a post-incident review would be conducted to understand the circumstances better. The Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. John Guigon assured the public that there was no danger posed by the bear during the incident. He explained that Fitz roamed around the zoo peacefully before being tranquilized by the zoo’s team.
Fitz and his brother Turner were orphaned cubs brought to the zoo last autumn after their mother’s unfortunate demise near Diamond Valley. The zoo has a history of bear-related incidents, including past mishaps and fatalities, but has committed to higher standards with its recent bear introductions.