Police in Calgary say they’re teaming up with researchers from Saskatchewan and Ontario to improve search and recovery efforts in the Bow River — with pigs.
The police service says the bodies of dead pigs will be chipped with GPS trackers to monitor depth, temperature and distance travelled, before being thrown in the river.
Investigators say each will be monitored remotely until they come to the surface of the water, at which point it will be recovered.
They say information gathered could help police better understand where and when human remains are most likely to be found in the river.
Iain Phillips with the University of Saskatchewan says the work is about helping investigators find answers sooner and give families closure.
Police say pig cadavers are regularly used by researchers in place of human bodies, and Calgarians are asked not to approach, interfere with or disturb any research equipment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2026.