Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs make debut at Calgary Zoo
Posted May 21, 2026 4:09 pm.
Last Updated May 21, 2026 4:27 pm.
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has quietly welcomed a pair of young grizzly bears as its newest residents.
Turner and Fitz were introduced Thursday at the zoo after losing their mother last year in an encounter with a human.
According to Jax Hoggard, animal care supervisor for the zoo’s Wild Canada section, both bears are healthy and developing exactly as one‑year‑old grizzly cubs should.
Hoggard says Fitz currently weighs about 110 kilograms, while Turner sits at roughly 116 kilograms. Their arrival required significant preparation since the zoo had not housed grizzly cubs in decades.
Staff upgraded the enclosure to handle the cubs’ constant digging, running, climbing and playing, ensuring the space was safe before their debut.
The pair already have sizable appetites, consuming between four and five kilograms of food each day. It’s a number that is expected to rise as the pair grow larger.
Their introduction comes just under a year after the zoo said goodbye to the two grizzlies previously housed in the same enclosure.
