Calgary Zoo Brings in Translator to Help Francophone Polar Bear Adjust to New Home

Yellé, a 20-year-old male polar bear, is seen in this undated photo. He arrived at the Calgary Zoo on March 17 from Quebec’s Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien. Handout photo from Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien

A French Canadian polar bear arriving at the Calgary Zoo has come with an interpreter in tow as the facility strives to ease his transition to an English-speaking environment.

The 20-year-old bear, Yellé, arrived at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo this month from Quebec. One of his caregivers from the Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Felicien made the trip with him.