Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo adopts orphaned grizzly cubs in wake of double bear euthanization

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has taken in two orphaned grizzly bear cubs after having to euthanize two senior bears last month.

The pair of young bears were found south of the city after their mom was killed in a human-wildlife encounter near Diamond Valley, the zoo explains. Born this year and too young to make it on their own, the cubs were taken into the zoo’s temporary care in mid-September.

“These cubs needed our help — but in many ways, we needed them too,” said Kim Walker, Senior Manager, Animal Care, Health & Welfare. “Their arrival has brought new life and hope to our zoo family at a time when our hearts were heavy with the recent loss of Skoki and Khutzeymateen.”

The same month, the zoo lost two of its long-time residents; Skoki, a wild-born male from Banff National Park, and Khutzeymateen, affectionately known as Khutzey, who was born at the zoo.

Both of the bears were 35 years old and were in declining health.

Skoki was euthanized on Sept. 2 and Khutzey, a short time later on Sept. 30.

The new cubs — a slightly darker female and a lighter male — haven’t been named yet.

The zoo explains that this story is a reminder of human-wildlife co-existence. At such a young age, grizzly cubs need their mom for food, safety, and learning the skills needed to survive in the wild.

Black bears can sometimes be rehabilitated and released, but orphaned grizzly cubs can’t safely return to the wild, it adds.

“Human contact, even with the best intentions, can cause them to lose their natural fear of people — putting both bears and communities at risk,” the zoo explains.

The public won’t be able to see the new cubs until the spring of 2026, the zoo says.