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.
The Wilder Institute said in an Instagram post that the caregiver is sharing the French cues Yellé learned during his training in Quebec with the Calgary zoo’s animal care team.
“We’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether our newest arrival, polar bear Yellé ‘knows’ French,” the institute said, adding that “some of the French words and phrases he’s familiar with may carry over as he settles in here with us.”
“It’s all part of helping him feel comfortable and set up for success in his new home,” the facility said.
Animal care manager Paul Woerner said the zoo hopes Yellé will bond with 10-year-old male polar bear Siku, who lost his previous companion, Baffin, two years ago.
Baffin died in July of 2024 after rough play between the two bears went wrong, the zoo said in a July 2024 press release. A necropsy completed by an independent wildlife pathologist determined Baffin died by drowning following an injury to his trachea.
Woerner said the new pair will hopefully bond after Yellé’s quarantine period.
“Welcoming any new arrival is always an exciting time, but Yellé’s arrival is especially meaningful for our team,” Woerner said in a press release. “We’ve been looking for the right companion for Siku, and having Yellé join our zoo family is a moment we’ve all been eagerly anticipating.”
The zoo said Yellé will be introduced to Siku “gradually,” based on the bears’ behaviour and comfort levels.
Even if they’re used to different languages, smell is more important than the bears understanding the same language cues, the zoo said.
The introduction process will start with scent exchanges before visual contact. Next, the bears will be allowed to see and interact with each other through a protective barrier. Once both animals seem comfortable, they will be able to share space, the zoo said.
“Every step will be guided by careful observation and our knowledge of polar bear behaviour to ensure the safety, comfort and wellbeing of both bears,” Woerner added.
The zoo said polar bear enthusiasts can follow the facility’s social media channels for updates about the new polar bear for the time being, but added that zoo-goers can expect to see Yellé exploring the Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary next month.
