The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has a new resident. Yellé (pronounced yel-EE), a 20-year-old male polar bear, arrived from Quebec's Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien on March 17 and is currently in quarantine as he settles into his new home.

Yellé was brought in as a companion for Siku, the zoo's 10-year-old resident male. Once quarantine is complete, the two will be introduced gradually — starting with scent exchanges, then visual contact through a barrier, and eventually sharing space — with each step guided by the zoo's animal care team based on the bears' behaviour and comfort.

Born in the Netherlands in 2005, Yellé has travelled a long way to get here. Guests can expect to see him exploring the Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary in April.

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has been an Arctic Ambassador Centre with Polar Bears International since 2023, using resident polar bears to raise awareness about the challenges the species faces as Arctic habitat continues to shrink. Both Yellé and Siku serve as ambassadors for their species, helping visitors connect with conservation efforts happening far beyond Calgary's city limits.