Polar bear at Calgary Zoo died by drowning following 'crushing' injury
CTV
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
WARNING: Details in story are graphic and may be disturbing to some readers...
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
The zoo said seven-year-old Baffin had been sparring with eight-year-old polar bear Siku in the pool in their enclosure on Friday, but went under the water and failed to resurface.
On Monday, following a necropsy, the zoo announced Baffin died by drowning following a "crushing injury to his trachea" by Siku during the "rough play."
Officials presume Baffin lost consciousness under the water due to his injury, and subsequently drowned.
"We believe it was a bite," Dr. Sandie Black, senior veterinarian, said, saying it squeezed and cracked one of the bear's trachea rings.
Black said Baffin's skin was undamaged, and there was only a very small amount of bruising visible on the inside.
