A young grizzly bear named Fitz from the Calgary Zoo briefly wandered outside his designated area, causing a temporary closure of the Wild Canada exhibit. The incident occurred early in the morning before the zoo opened to the public. Zoo officials promptly enacted emergency protocols, leading to Fitz being safely immobilized and relocated back to his designated space without any harm to visitors, staff, or animals.
Communications manager Cindy Antonello stated that the zoo’s animal care and security teams, in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service, effectively managed the situation. Following the incident, the Wild Canada section where the bears reside was temporarily closed for assessment before reopening later in the day.
Antonello confirmed that an investigation into the incident would be conducted as part of the post-incident procedures. The Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. John Guigon assured the public that there was no risk to safety during the incident. He explained that the bear roamed around the zoo before being tranquilized by zoo personnel, with police officers standing by in a precautionary capacity.
Fitz and his sibling Turner arrived at the zoo as cubs last autumn after their mother was tragically killed by a hunter near Diamond Valley, located southwest of Calgary. The zoo has not disclosed further details about the incident at this time.
