‘There’s not a lot of those creatures left on earth — I don’t know if our efforts would be better spent helping them out in the wild’
Visitors to the Calgary Zoo are sharing condolences, along with a mixture of shock and confusion after a polar bear died on Friday.
Two male polar bears, Baffin and Siku, were sparring around 11:30 a.m., a normal behaviour for them — when zoo staff noticed Baffin had not surfaced, said Jamie Dorgan, the zoo’s interim CEO.
“Baffin was deceased in the pool … It’s obviously a huge shock today (Friday) for our staff and volunteers to learn of this incredibly surprising situation,” he said.
Dorgan said it’s not yet known what might have gone wrong and an investigation is ongoing.
Calgarian Dana Prior was visiting the zoo Saturday morning and extended her condolences to staff, but said “higher-ups” at the facility need to make sure things are set up properly in the enclosure.
“I have no idea what happened — but that sounds like maybe they weren’t being properly cared for here,” said Prior. “I know it’s a tough climate for animals that usually live in the cold to be here in 32 degrees.
“If it was anything to do with that, they just need to, you know, look out for the animals.”
Prior was saddened by the news, especially with polar bears being an endangered species,
“Zoos are supposed to be doing conservation kind of stuff,” she said.
Jake and Melissa Durglo from Montana came to the zoo on Saturday, in part, to see the polar bears.
“It’s pretty tragic, I mean, our main attraction coming to the zoo, was probably to see the polar bear(s),” Jake said.
Signage near the zoo’s North Entrance indicated the Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary was closed on Saturday. It remains unclear when it may reopen.
A zoo spokesperson indicated via email that they will be sharing necropsy results and inviting media for interviews on Tuesday.
“Our staff are devastated, heartbroken and struggling after the unexpected loss of Baffin,” the zoo said. “We are actively supporting them during this difficult time. Our community’s kindness and love is felt and appreciated.”
The two bears came from the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg last fall — the first polar bears at the Calgary Zoo since 1999 — later taking up residence in the revamped $40-million Wild Canada Zone, which opened in December.
Dr. Chris Enright, senior director of zoological operations at the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, said in an emailed statement that they were “heartbroken” to learn of Baffin’s death after the Calgary Zoo’s animal care team shared it on Friday.
“While they (staff at the Calgary Zoo) are personally devastated by this loss, they also expressed their heartfelt condolences to our team, who will also mourn his passing,” said Enright. “The polar bears who come to Assiniboine Park Zoo hold a special place in our hearts and minds.
“Our thoughts are with the Calgary team and all those who care about the future of polar bears and will be impacted by this tragic loss.”
Having seen polar bears at the San Francisco Zoo, Jake Durglo said they’re such “giant creatures” and amazing to view. He was baffled to hear that one in Calgary had died.
Jake was surprised to hear that the bears were out in the heat.
“In San Francisco, they wouldn’t come out unless you were there in the morning because it was really really hot,” he said. “It doesn’t seem natural for sure.”
The Durglos are animal lovers, and Jake said even being at the zoo is like “a double-edged sword”.
“Just the fact that I mean, it’s not their natural environment — I think there’s some like rehabilitation aspect to some zoos, just the whole concept is a little tough,” he said.
In regard to the zoo, Jake said, “They were monitoring, they were aware it happened. Yeah, it’s hard to hear, especially with a polar bear.
“There’s not a lot of those creatures left on earth — I don’t know if our efforts would be better spent helping them out in the wild,” he added. “It’s terrible to hear this such a limited, massive creature died.”
Janet, who declined to share her last name, lives in Calgary and went to the zoo Saturday with her friend from Victoria B.C.
“We just were here a month ago. So yeah, a little bit of a shock for sure — it’s super sad,” she said.
She moved to Calgary with her husband three months ago and hasn’t been to the Calgary Zoo in about 17 years, but has gone multiple times since moving here.
“We hung out, watched the polar bears … it was just amazing and awesome,” said Janet.
Michael Alvarez-Toye, Calgary Animal Rights Effort administrator and a spokesperson against animal cruelty, said until an autopsy is done it would be speculating at this point to say heat was the cause of death — although he didn’t rule it out.
“The fact they were sparring does not take away from the strong possibility that the heat was involved,” he said. “They do this in extreme heat condition(s) and go into the water, I don’t know but would think just like dogs and cats, they say do not try to cool them off with cold water because it’s a shock to their system.”
Alvarez-Toye said it should be science that “dictates the imprisonment of animals.”
“The science clearly shows polar bears should not and should never be imprisoned as they are. It doesn’t matter what entertainment you provide them — they’re not animals that live to be amused.”
— With files from Bill Kaufmann, Monica Zurowski and Scott Strasser