White Black Bear

Yesterday, 6 October 2014, I returned to the Calgary Zoo and this time saw this beautiful, rare, "white" Black Bear. Not the best lighting with a shadow across the face, but I found it a little amusing to see it watching this Crow, that presumably was hoping for some spilt food from the black tube. About a week ago, I made my first visit to the Zoo since before the Alberta Flood of the Century in June 2013. Walking around the various enclosures made me wonder how on earth the Zoo managed to rescue and move so many animals on that dreadful, devastating day!

A sign placed outside this bear enclosure reads: "Manuka is lonely, but will soon be joined by two Black Bear cubs. She recently lost her companion, and you may see her walking back and forth in her habitat. Until they arrive, we are providing her with extra enrichment."

"In September 2013, a rare "white" black bear that had become a problem animal in British Columbia, became a resident at the Calgary Zoo.

It is one of a pair of young, white-furred bears that had acquired the habit of feeding on garbage in the town of Elkford, B.C.

The animals began lingering around Elkford in the fall of 2011. Conservation officers relocated the bears to the north, across the border in Alberta's Kananaskis Country. However, one of the bears returned to the town because of the easy availability of food.

When bears become habituated to people they are normally destroyed, but conservation officials made an exception in this case because of the rare colouring. The white fur of the bear is linked to a recessive gene.

This animal is an "ambassador" and helps educate people to respect wildlife and make sure their actions do not result in creating more problem bears." From a Calgary Herald newspaper article, 4 September 2013.