Calgary Zoo Polar Bear’s Drowning Death Due to Injury From Roughhousing With Another Bear

Male polar bear 'Baffin' lounges on a rock in the polar bear sanctuary at the Calgary Zoo on Nov. 22 2023. (Calgary Zoo/Handout photo)

Calgary’s 7-year-old male polar bear ‘Baffin’ died as a result of rough play with another polar bear in the enclosure, the Calgary Zoo says.

A necropsy completed by an independent wildlife pathologist determined Baffin died by drowning following an injury to his trachea. The injury occurred during play with 8-year-old polar bear ‘Siku,’ the zoo said in a July 23 news release.

“It is presumed that Baffin lost consciousness underwater due to the tracheal injury and subsequently drowned,” the zoo said. The incident happened on July 19.

A spokesperson for the zoo told The Epoch Times in an email that while Siku was “aware” that Baffin was not in the habitat, the bear was “demonstrating natural behaviours,” eating normally and participating in training sessions.

The zoo’s animal care, health and welfare team will be closely monitoring Siku, the release said.

Baffin’s necropsy also confirmed the bear was otherwise in “excellent” physical condition and there was no signs of heat-related stress. The temperature that day peaked at about 33 degrees Celsius.

“Baffin and Siku shared a long history as habitat mates and enjoyed a companionate relationship, displaying many natural polar bear behaviors, including daily play in and out of the water,” a July 23 post on the Calgary Zoo’s Facebook page said.

“While some might suggest separating large carnivores could prevent such tragic accidents, our commitment to animal welfare and well-being is science-based and remains unwavering. Separating them for our comfort, at the expense of their well-being, does not align with our values.”

The zoo said it will soon announce a way the public can share notes of condolences to the team that cared for Baffin.

“Baffin captured the hearts of all of us here,” the Facebook post said. “Our staff, volunteers, and the wider community, including the Assiniboine Park & Zoo family, will grieve this loss for a long time. Thank you for your continued support, understanding, and compassion during this difficult time.”

Baffin had been rescued as an orphaned cub when he was less than a year old. He was taken to the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre at Assiniboine Park Zoo in December 2017.

At the zoo, he was introduced to other polar bears and lived in the ‘Journey to Churchill’ exhibit. In the fall of 2023, Baffin and Siku, who had been rescued as a cub in 2016, were moved to the Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary at the Calgary Zoo.

“Baffin and Siku shared a long history as longtime habitat mates and enjoyed a companionate relationship, which is why they were chosen to come to Calgary from Assiniboine Park Zoo,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care, health and welfare, said in the release.

“They displayed many natural polar bear behaviours, including playing daily in and out of the water.  The type and intensity of play on the day of the incident appeared to be no different than the type of play their caregivers witnessed from them on a daily basis,” Ms. Baird said.

She said that while the cause of Baffin’s death was accidental, it offered “little solace” to the team that cared for the bear at the zoo.

“The entire Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo family mourns this loss deeply, and our hearts go out to the [Assiniboine Park Zoo] family, who loved him first,” the Calgary Zoo said in a July 19 post on X, formerly Twitter.