The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has found out the motive of dying for polar undergo Baffin closing week.
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The zoo stated seven- yr - antique Baffin have been sparring with eight- yr - antique polar undergo Siku withinside the pool of their enclosure on Friday, however went beneathneath the water and did not resurface.
On Monday, following a necropsy, the zoo introduced Baffin died through drowning following a "crushing harm to his trachea" through Siku for the duration of the " hard play."
"We consider it became a bite," Dr. Sandie Black, senior veterinarian, stated , pronouncing it squeezed and cracked one of the undergo 's trachea rings.
Black stated Baffin's pores and skin became undamaged, and there has been most effective a completely small quantity of bruising seen at the inside.
"Had this been on land, it might were very one of a kind ," she stated , calling the incident a "tragic accident."
The necropsy – which became finished through an unbiased pathologist in addition to the zoo's animal fitness group – additionally showed Baffin became in brilliant bodily condition.
Additionally, officers say the necropsy discovered no proof of heat- associated stress.
Black stated the necropsy outcomes offer " hole comfort" to the group on the Calgary zoo – and the group at Assiniboine Park Zoo, wherein the bears lived earlier than coming to Calgary in October 2023.
Baffin became rescued as a cub while he became much less than a yr antique .
Siku have been rescued as an orphan cub in 2016.
"Baffin and Siku shared an extended records as habitat mates, and the loved a companionate relationship, that is why they had been selected to return back to Calgary," Black stated .
She stated the bears " performed every day ," each inside and out of the water.
"The kind and depth of play at the day of the incident regarded to be no one of a kind than the kind of play their caregivers witnessed from them on a every day basis."
Black says they haven't any on the spot issues approximately Siku, who's doing " properly " and has a great appetite.
Black says they're tracking Siku as he mourns the lack of his companion, and says there's a opportunity of bringing in every other polar undergo to enroll in him withinside the future, however not anything immediately.
"Certainly we'd like, for his welfare, to convey every other polar undergo – as a minimum one extra polar undergo – into the exhibit, however there is no urgent want to do so."
Black stated in captivity, polar bears can live " as much as approximately 30 years."
She stated that because of the unintended nature of the incident, there aren't anyt any plans to extrade the polar undergo habitat at this time.
"It's been certainly tragic for us and our group ," stated Colleen Baird, director of animal care, fitness and welfare.
"Hearing all of the properly desires and condolences have certainly helped us get via it."
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