A young grizzly bear named Fitz from the Calgary Zoo briefly roamed outside his designated area early one morning, according to a spokesperson from the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. The incident occurred before the zoo opened to the public, and emergency protocols were promptly initiated. The zoo’s animal care and security teams, in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service, quickly responded to the situation.
Fitz was safely immobilized and relocated back to his designated space without any harm to visitors, staff, volunteers, or other animals, stated communications manager Cindy Antonello. Following the incident, the Wild Canada section, where the bears are housed, was temporarily closed for assessment before reopening later in the day.
Antonello mentioned that a thorough review of the incident would be conducted as part of the post-incident procedures, with no further details available at the moment. Staff Sgt. John Guigon of the Calgary Police Service assured that there was no risk to the public during the bear’s escapade. The bear was tranquilized by the zoo personnel after a leisurely stroll around the premises.
Fitz and his sibling Turner were introduced to the zoo last autumn after their mother was tragically killed by a hunter near Diamond Valley, located southwest of Calgary. The incident highlighted the importance of safety protocols and vigilance in managing wildlife within zoo facilities.
