Tragic Polar Bear Incident at Calgary Zoo: Rough Play Turns Fatal

A necropsy revealed that a polar bear at the Calgary Zoo drowned after his throat was crushed by another bear during rough play. The incident occurred while visitors watched, causing the 7-year-old bear, Baffin, to drown in the pond after being bitten by 8-year-old Siku.

A necropsy has determined that a polar bear at a zoo in western Canada died by drowning after his throat was crushed by a fellow bear during rough play, a behavior deemed normal for the species.

The 7-year-old bear, Baffin, died at the Calgary Zoo following a diving game with another male polar bear, the 8-year-old Siku. The incident unfolded as visitors to the exhibit observed. Baffin submerged during the roughhousing and did not return to the surface.

According to zoo senior veterinarian Sandie Black, Siku bit down on Baffin's trachea. While the bite didn't break the skin, it was strong enough to crush his windpipe. Black noted that the bite was tragically misplaced but characteristic of their play.

It initially appeared that nothing was amiss. Colleen Baird, the zoo's director of animal care, recounted that visitors were confused when Baffin didn't surface, pondering how long a bear could hold its breath. The pond was eventually drained, revealing Baffin's lifeless body.

Both bears were originally from Churchill, Manitoba, and had been orphaned as cubs, a rare surviving scenario. They had coexisted for years, coming to Calgary from the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, chosen for their compatibility.

(With inputs from agencies.)