Walking ‘Khutzeymateen’ Home

One of the greatest privileges of our work is caring for an animal through every season of their life. One of the hardest responsibilities is knowing when it’s time to let them go.

Our beloved grizzly, ‘Khutzeymateen’—affectionately known as ‘Khutzy’—is 35 years old and very geriatric. Her health has recently significantly declined, and while supportive care has kept her comfortable, it may soon no longer be enough.

After careful consideration, our Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team has made the compassionate decision to lovingly walk her home with a planned euthanasia on Tuesday, September 30. This decision is an act of love, compassion, respect, and responsibility for Khutzy. It is the final gift we can give her after a lifetime of care, ensuring she does not experience unnecessary suffering. We know this news comes so soon after saying goodbye to grizzly bear ‘Skoki’, and that makes this moment even more difficult for us all.

Born at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo, Khutzy has been part of our family for more than three decades. She is a truly remarkable bear with a gentle soul, teaching millions about grizzly bears and the importance of coexisting safely with wildlife.

We invite our community to celebrate Khutzy’s extraordinary life and, if possible, take a moment to visit her before September 30 to reflect, to celebrate her remarkable journey, and to say goodbye in your own way. We hope her story will continue to inspire respect and care for all bears, both here at the zoo and in the wild for years to come.