A young grizzly bear named Fitz from the Calgary Zoo briefly left his exhibit early on a Sunday morning. The Wilder Institute’s spokesperson informed CBC News about the incident, stating that emergency protocols were promptly activated. Zoo staff and security, along with the Calgary Police Service, swiftly responded to the situation.
Fitz was safely immobilized and relocated back to his designated area without any harm to visitors, employees, volunteers, or other animals. The incident occurred before the zoo’s regular opening hours, and 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 incident as part of their post-incident procedures. Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. John Guigon assured the public that there was no risk during the event. He mentioned that the bear roamed around peacefully, sat down, and was tranquilized by zoo personnel.
Fitz and his sibling Turner arrived at the zoo as cubs last autumn following their mother’s tragic demise in self-defense by a hunter near Diamond Valley, southwest of Calgary.