Grizzly escapes Calgary Zoo enclosure early Sunday, safely recaptured
A one-year-old grizzly named Fitz left his habitat at the Calgary Zoo early Sunday and was tranquilized and returned without any injuries.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, a young grizzly called Fitz exited his enclosure at the Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo in Calgary. Zoo communications manager Cindy Antonello said emergency procedures were promptly triggered, and animal-care and security teams, supported by Calgary Police Service personnel, responded. The bear was safely immobilized, tranquilized, and relocated to a back-of-house space, with no injuries reported to visitors, staff, volunteers or other animals.
The Wild Canada exhibit remained closed temporarily for a thorough assessment before reopening later in the day. Police Staff Sgt. John Guigon noted the animal posed no public danger and appeared more interested in a brief stroll than aggression. Fitz and his sibling Turner were rescued as cubs last fall after their mother was killed by a hunter near Diamond Valley, southwest of Calgary.
Why it matters
The incident shows zoo emergency readiness and reassures the public about animal safety protocols.
In this story
