The Calgary Zoo, managed by the Wilder Institute, is looking into the circumstances surrounding the escape of a grizzly bear from its enclosure on Sunday morning. Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, health, and welfare, mentioned during a media briefing on Monday that an investigation is ongoing to identify necessary improvements to the habitat and preventive measures.
The incident involving Fitz, a one-year-old rescued grizzly bear cub, was discovered by staff during routine early morning checks before the zoo opened to the public. Baird stated that the animal care team swiftly implemented emergency protocols, leading to Fitz being tranquilized promptly with no harm to his health.
According to Baird, there was no danger to public safety as the incident occurred before the zoo’s opening hours and the bear stayed near his enclosure. The area where the bears are housed, known as Wild Canada, was temporarily closed but later reopened in the afternoon.
Although it remains unclear when Fitz escaped and how long he was out, Baird assured that he did not wander around the zoo overnight, evidenced by the lack of destruction, footprints, or sightings on security cameras beyond the immediate vicinity.
It is believed that Fitz managed to climb over the enclosure’s barriers, which are eight to 10 feet high and equipped with internal hot wire, allowing him to access an area just outside his habitat. Baird emphasized the multiple layers of security measures in place, including a high barbed wire fence surrounding the entire Calgary Zoo to prevent animal escapes.
Fitz and his brother Turner have been temporarily relocated to a secure area within the zoo while further assessments are conducted to enhance habitat safety based on the investigation’s outcomes. The bear siblings were brought to the zoo as cubs last autumn after their mother’s unfortunate demise near Diamond Valley, southwest of Calgary.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/grizzly-bear-escape-enclosure-calgary-zoo-9.7310441)