Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo to euthanize partner of grizzly bear who died weeks earlier

Calgary’s Wilder Institute is euthanizing an elder bear at the end of September after its partner met the same fate weeks earlier.

Officials say 35-year-old Khutzeymateen, also known as Khutzy, has been at the zoo for over three decades. They say Khutzy is “very geriatric,” and her health has significantly declined.

The decision to “walk her home” with a planned euthanasia on Sept. 30 was made after continued supportive care.

“This decision is an act of love, compassion, respect, and responsibility for Khutzy,” the zoo writes in a Friday notice. “It is the final gift we can give her after a lifetime of care, ensuring she does not experience unnecessary suffering.”

This comes after the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo euthanized Khutzy’s mate, Skoki, weeks earlier. He joined the zoo in 1996 when he was six and has been there for nearly three decades as well.

He was born in Banff National Park and known as GB16 before Parks Canada advocated for human care at the zoo. Rangers struggled to keep Skoki away from people, as they say he grew to associate people with food. This earned him the nickname “problem bear.”

Zoo officials say he was cared for in his golden years before they decided to end his life, saying he was “very geriatric” for his species.

They say his legacy is one of “education, compassion, and a deep connection between people and wildlife.”

According to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, grizzly bears in the wild live between 20 and 30 years, depending on human mortality. Some cases can go as high as 40 years. Bears in captivity have been reported to live beyond 40 years.

Calgary zoo adopts two grizzly bear cubs

The euthanizing of the bears comes as the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo adopted two cubs left orphaned after a hunter killed their mom, reportedly in self-defense.

According to Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES), a hunter was near Diamond Valley on Sept. 15 and acted in self-defense, shooting and killing a grizzly bear to prevent an attack.

“The cubs were born this year and are still fully dependent on their mom,” reads a social media post from the zoo. “Without human intervention, they surely would have died if left in the wild.”