A young grizzly bear named Fitz at the Calgary Zoo briefly left his designated area early in the morning, according to a spokesperson from the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. The incident occurred before the zoo opened to the public on Sunday. Emergency protocols were promptly activated, and the zoo’s animal care and security teams, in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service, swiftly responded.
Fitz was safely immobilized and relocated by the animal care team without any harm to visitors, staff, volunteers, or other animals. The Wild Canada section where the bears reside was temporarily closed for assessment before reopening later in the day. The zoo will conduct a thorough review of the situation following established post-incident procedures.
Staff Sgt. John Guigon of the Calgary Police Service assured that there was no threat to the public during the incident. He mentioned that the bear wandered around the zoo before being tranquilized by zoo personnel. Fitz and his sibling Turner were introduced to the zoo last autumn after their mother was tragically killed by a hunter near Diamond Valley, southwest of Calgary.
The Calgary Zoo has a history with bears, including polar bears, dating back to the 1930s. Despite past challenges, the zoo has committed to upholding new standards with its recent bear acquisitions. Police officers were present at the zoo during the incident but were not required to intervene as the situation was managed by zoo staff efficiently.