Give bear cub chance at wild life: Zoocheck

Zoocheck Canada says an orphaned bear cub being housed at the Calgary Zoo should be given a second chance at life in the wild.

The cub, known as the son of Bear 66, was orphaned earlier this year when its mother was struck and killed by a train in Banff National Park.

Zoocheck says Parks Canada won't re-introduce the cub to the wild because of its age and habituated nature.

But the group's Julie Woodyer says the cub could possibly head back to the wild if it was rehabilitated. She says she's spoken to a bear rehabilitator in Alberta, and believes the process would be relatively inexpensive.

"That individual has indicated that she would need to build an enclosure, costing about $2,500 and that the rest of the cost would be covered under her normal rehabilitation programs," said Woodyear.

"I do know that the World Society for Protection of Animals has offered to put up the money to build the enclosure, meaning that this is not going to cost the government a penny, nor the taxpayers, nor anyone else."

Woodyer says if the cub is put into a rehabilitation program, that doesn't mean it will definitely end up in the wild.

But she says it's worth it to give the cub another chance at life outside captivity.