Innisfail's Discovery Wildlife Park is now open for the season — and visitors will be surprised to see how some of the animals have grown.
Three-year-old Bos the Kodiak bear is enormous now — especially when compared with Piper, the same aged female, said the park's co-owner Serena Bos.
Though the two bears still like to horse around, visitors have been remarking on the size disparity between them. "They think it's a mother bear and her cub," she added.
Kodiak bears are the largest carnivorous land mammal in the world, said Serena — although some people argue polar bears are as big.
Like most animals at Discovery Wildlife Park, Bos and Piper were brought in as wildlife orphans. Sometiems zoo are shut down and the animals are re-homed at the Innisfail zoo.
Serena Bos said they also take in exotic animals that can no longer be cared for by their owners. For instance, Billy the movie bear was surrendered from his previous home in Vancouver after his trainer developed dementia.
In 2022, Boop the baby yak was brought into the park after she was born on an Alberta farm and her mother could not produce milk for her. Once dog-sized , Boop is now a fully grown yak, said Serena.
Among the newest additions are Velcro the porcupine, rescued last year after a vehicle killed his mom. "He's cute as a button," said Serena . And there's Koorah the now teenage cougar, who also came to the zoo as an orphan.
Visitors to Discovery Wildlife Park will see a variety of other animals, including camels, lions, wolves, monkeys and reptiles. And every visit is accompanied by an information session on bear safety.
"We have bear safety presentations in the parks every day," said Serena, who notes bears in the wilderness are out of hibernation now and starting to wander in search of food.
Before contemplating how to react during a bear attack, she advises brushing up on your prevention know-how. "Making a lot of noise is better, to the bear know you are there so it can avoid you." The Parks Canada site advises hikers to call out, clap, sing or talk loudly when in the bush — especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, or on windy or foggy days.
Discovery Wildlife Park staff are already planning to host a special Wild Fest event on Aug. 10 with bouncy rides, a vendors; market, face painting, axe throwing and animal presentations.