Orphaned Grizzly Cubs Arrive at Calgary Zoo
Two young grizzlies are settling into their new home at the Wilder Institute after being rescued from the wild.
Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs named Fitz and Turner are getting their first taste of life at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo this week—and the pair have already figured out what matters most: wrestling each other in their new enclosure.
The cubs arrived after being found alone in the wild. Without their mother to teach them survival skills, the zoo became their only realistic path to a safe life. Their enclosure has been carefully designed to give them space to play, climb, and develop natural behaviours while under expert care.
Grizzly cubs are curious, energetic animals, and Fitz and Turner are no exception. Staff at the zoo say the pair have taken well to their new surroundings, spending their days exploring and, yes, roughhousing with each other—a crucial part of their development. The zoo is now their home, and the focus shifts to helping them grow into healthy adult bears.
It's the kind of quiet conservation win that happens behind the scenes: two young animals get a second chance at life, and Calgarians get to witness some genuine wildlife moments without the tragedy of abandonment.