Polar bear died from drowning, Calgary zoo officials say

Polar bear Baffin is seen in this undated handout photo. The results of a necropsy are expected to be released July 23 after a polar bear died in Calgary. The Wilder Institute and the Calgary Zoo report that 7-year-old Baffin did not emerge from a swimming pool after playing with another polar bear on July 19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO – Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

A polar bear that died last week at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has drowned, zoo officials said Tuesday.

On Friday, the zoo closed its Wild Canada Zone after seven-year-old Baffin did not reappear after going underwater.

It is now suspected that Baffin’s windpipe was crushed by his buddy Siku during a wild competition, causing him to lose consciousness underwater and never surface.

The care team confirmed that Baffin was dead in the pool.

There were a number of spectators present at the time of the incident.

Baffin and Siku came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo in October from the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Manitoba as part of an $11 million expansion of the Wild Canada Zone.

This is a developing story.

-With files from Michael Ranger

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