Healing Hearts and Continuing a Legacy: Two Orphaned Grizzlies Find a Home

16 OCTOBER 2025 (Calgary, AB) – Sometimes life’s hardest moments open the door to new beginnings. This fall, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo experienced both. As the team mourned the loss of two beloved senior grizzly bears, their hearts — and habitats — once again opened to welcome two orphaned grizzly cubs, who have now found a permanent home at the zoo. 

The young bears were discovered in southern Alberta after their mother was killed in a human-wildlife encounter near Diamond Valley. Born this year and far too young to survive on their own, the cubs were brought into the zoo’s temporary care in mid-September while arrangements were made to secure them a permanent home. 

“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 zoo has been caring for grizzly bears since 1938, fostering a nearly 90-year legacy of conservation, education, and safe coexistence with wildlife. This fall marked the end of an era with the loss of two remarkable bears — ‘Skoki’, a wild-born male from Banff National Park, and ‘Khutzeymateen’, affectionately known as “Khutzey,” who was born at the zoo. Both were 35 years old, an exceptional age for their species. Skoki was compassionately euthanized on September 2 following a health check that revealed age-related complications, and Khutzey was lovingly walked home with a planned euthanasia on September 30 after her health significantly declined. 

The cubs — a slightly darker female and a lighter male — have not yet been named. Since their arrival, they have been settling in while receiving exceptional care. They are eating well, adapting to their new surroundings, and slowly building trust with their dedicated caregivers. 

While their story is one of hope, it also carries an important reminder about human-wildlife coexistence. At this age, grizzly cubs are entirely dependent on their mother for food, safety, and learning the skills necessary to survive in the wild. Unlike black bears, who can sometimes be rehabilitated and released, orphaned grizzly cubs cannot safely return to the wild. Human contact, even with the best intentions, can cause them to lose their natural fear of people — putting both bears and communities at risk. Following provincial policy, scientific evidence, and animal welfare best practices, orphaned grizzly cubs are almost always placed in long-term care facilities or accredited zoos rather than being released. Thanks to the swift action and strong partnership with Alberta Fish & Wildlife, these cubs have been given a second chance — one that will help inspire new generations to care for wildlife close to home. 

For nearly 90 years, grizzly bears have been part of the zoo’s story, and helping these cubs is both a responsibility and a privilege. Their story reinforces the importance of keeping wild bears wild — by securing attractants, giving bears space, and respecting their habitats — while continuing the zoo’s long-standing legacy of grizzly care and conservation. 

The two cubs will not be viewable to the public until spring 2026. However, their presence serves as a reminder that even after great loss, new life can bring healing, and that wildlife has the power to inspire, educate, and touch the hearts of us all. 

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For more information contact: 

Alison Archambault
Director, Brand & Public Engagement
403-232-7766 | 403-919-9482 | mediarelations@calgaryzoo.com 

About the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo  

For more than 30 years, the internationally accredited Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has been a leading authority in wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve natural resources to positively impact both the environment and local inhabitants.  

While our work is global, our roots run deep in the Albertan conservation community. Sitting on 125 acres in the heart of the city, we operate one of the oldest charities in Alberta, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo – a not-for-profit charitable wildlife conservation organization that works to fight the extinction of plants and animals worldwide. In addition to the zoo, we proudly operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre (ABC), Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Nestled on 330 acres in the Albertan prairies, the ABC is a stronghold for biodiversity and a temporary home to some of Canada’s most iconic species-at-risk.  

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is passionate about inspiring and educating generations of visitors about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. Together, we will continue to be a force of nature for making the world a wilder place. Learn more at WilderInstitute.org and CalgaryZoo.com.