It’s a black bear, but due to a rare recessive gene this bear is white.
A pair of “white” bears began to be a problem in the community of Elkford in 2011, getting into garbae cans and posing a danger to residents.
Conservation officers relocated the bears further north and into the neighbouring province of Alberta’s Kananaskis region.
This bear however made its way back to the “easy” food of human garbage cans in Elkford.
Because such bears tend to lose their fear of humans, they pose a real danger and are usually shot. In this case however, because of the rare colouring, conservation officers decided instead to send the animal to the Calgary zoo.
Zoo officials say the bear is adapting well to its new home and will be on display after a 30-day quarantine.
Officials say the animal will become an “ambassador” and will help educate people to respect wildllife and make sure their actions do not result in creating more problem bears.
The more widely known “spirit bear” or Kermode bear of the coastal regions of BC is also a subspecies of black bear with a recessive gene, and are not albinos.
(with files from CBC)
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