Grizzly Cubs Make Public Debut at Calgary Zoo
Two orphaned brothers, Turner and Fitz, explore their new home after a winter behind the scenes.
Turner and Fitz are brothers. They're about 18 months old. And this week, they made their public debut at the Calgary Zoo after spending the winter getting comfortable in their new home.
The cubs were orphaned last fall near Diamond Valley, about 70 kilometres south of Calgary, when their mother was killed in what the zoo describes as a human-wildlife encounter. Too young to fend for themselves in the wild, they were brought to the Calgary Zoo—a place that's been caring for grizzlies since 1938, nearly 90 years of expertise.
Turner has the darker coat and weighs about 116 kilograms (256 pounds). Fitz is lighter, with a silver tinge, and tips the scales at about 110 kilograms (243 pounds). Each eats roughly five kilograms of food a day. Both are exactly where they should be developmentally—their coats are shiny, their behaviour is playful, and they're getting the enrichment they need.
Over winter, staff let the cubs choose their own rhythm. They could sleep if they wanted; most stayed awake. The zoo made habitat changes specifically for them: rocks repositioned, logs moved, digging and climbing opportunities created. The goal was confidence in their new home and safety for the bears as they learned to explore.
As they grow, the zoo may move them to a larger habitat. For now, they've got the smaller space, and plenty of baby-bear things to do—digging, running, climbing, playing. It's the kind of quiet animal-care story that reminds us: rescue isn't just about saving lives. It's about building a future in a new place.