North Island wildlife centre mourns death of resident black bear
A community favourite black bear that lived at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington died on Tuesday "surrounded by people who loved him," the centre announced Wednesday.
Knut, who lived to be 25, died from complications related to advanced age, according to the rescue centre.
Knut was brought to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) in 1996 after his mother, who was born in captivity at the Vancouver Game Farm, refused to or did not know how to care for him, according to NIWRC.
Since then, Knut grew to become a favourite of caretakers and visitors.
"Visitors often commented that they grew up with Knut, having met him when they were young and then brought their own children to meet him," said the wildlife centre.
NIWRC says he could often be found playing with his younger bear companion, Rae, or lounging in his preferred spot in the front of the bear enclosure.
Images of Knut were also used for a range of educational programs, and the wildlife centre credits the bear with helping it understand how to aid cubs that come into its care.
"The lessons learned from caring for this amazing animal have enabled NIWRC to develop a world-class black bear rehabilitation program and helped rehabilitate and release hundreds of ill, injured or orphaned cubs back into the wild," said the rescue centre.
The NIWRA notes that Knut was particularly close to one caretaker, Robin Campbell, who hand-raised the animal since it was first taken in, and who is described as Knut's "best human-friend."
The rescue centre says that a memorial is being created for Knut which will be publicly accessible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca