Polar Bear Baffin in the Calgary Zoo (Photo Credits - Calgary Zoo)
A necropsy has shown that a polar bear at the Calgary zoo died by drowning after his throat was crushed by a fellow bear in rough play considered normal for the massive predators.
The two male bears, Siku, 8, and seven-year-old Baffin, were roughhousing in a pond Friday morning before visitors to the exhibit when Baffin submerged and didn’t resurface.
An Examination revealed that although Siku’s bite didn’t pierce Baffin’s skin, it was hard enough and in just the right place to crush his trachea. Zoo staff couldn’t have done anything to prevent the death.
Siku and Baffin were both originally from the Churchill, Man., area. Both had been orphaned when they were less than a year old — a circumstance which bear cubs don’t normally survive.
The pair came to Calgary from the polar bear enclosure at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. They were chosen because they had lived together for years and were considered to be compatible.
Collen Baird, director of Animal Care Health and Welfare at the Calgary Zoo spoke with CJWE about the incident.
Baird says that staff will continue to monitor Siku’s behavior.
Baird says the passing of Baffin has been a tough loss for the Calgary Zoo staff and community, with some of the staff being affected more then others.
Baird adds that the sanctuary within the Calgary Zoo is built to host up too four bears, and with hopes of adding more bears in the future to help conserve more polar bears in the Zoo.
Baird says that since the passing of Baffin, there has been an overwhelming support from the community within Calgary, with hopes that the citizens within Calgary will continue on the journey with the Calgary Zoo in Polar Bear conservation.
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