A young grizzly bear named Fitz from the Calgary Zoo briefly left his habitat early on a Sunday morning, prompting emergency protocols to be activated swiftly, according to a spokesperson from the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. Cindy Antonello, the communications manager, stated that the zoo’s animal care and security teams, along with the Calgary Police Service, promptly responded to the situation. 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 area where the bears reside. The section was later reopened after a thorough assessment by the zoo’s teams in the afternoon. Antonello mentioned that a post-incident review would be conducted to investigate the circumstances further, with no additional details available at the moment.
Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. John Guigon reassured that there was no risk to the public during the bear’s escapade, as zoo personnel efficiently tranquilized Fitz after a brief exploration. Guigon highlighted the zoo’s successful management of the situation, emphasizing that the bear displayed no hostile behavior beyond seeking a brief adventure.
Fitz and his sibling Turner were introduced to the zoo as cubs last autumn following the tragic loss of their mother to a hunter in self-defense near Diamond Valley, located southwest of Calgary.
