Bear Tragedy: 5 Die from Liver Failure at Wildlife Rescue

0:00A wildlife rescue in northern British Columbia is grieving the sudden loss of five bears from acute liver failure. The Northern Lights Wildlife Society, based near Smithers, found four of them dead in their enclosure on Monday and the fifth passed away Wednesday, despite treatment. Necropcies confirmed the liver issues, but they're still waiting on lab tests to pinpoint the cause. Earlier this week, the group posted about the tragedy on social media, calling it one of their toughest hits ever. They put the facility under quarantine as a precaution, but so far, their other bears and animals look completely fine. These five came from spots across the province like Trail, Vernon, and Dawson Creek. The society's founder, Angelika Langen, told reporters she needs time to process before commenting further. It's a heavy blow for a team that's seen lost before, but this feels especially shocking and out of nowhere. Northern Lights has been saving orphaned and injured critters since 2007, rehabilitating thousands for release back into the wild.

1:02Last year alone, they took in 48 bears, including four grizzlies. Meanwhile, provincial conservation officers say they're not involved in any probe here. As the lab results roll in, the focus stays on protecting the rest of the animals and figuring out what went wrong. That wraps Canada News today, brought to you with AI. I'm Corey with the story.