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The girl crossed a safety barrier surrounding a black bear enclosure at about 7 p.m. PT and ended up in an area closed to the public, a zoo official said Tuesday.
According to RCMP, the girl then stuck her arm through a chain-link fence and was bitten.
Paramedics were called to the scene, including two critical care teams and an air ambulance, said B.C. Emergency Health Services.
The girl was airlifted to hospital in serious condition. Officials did not release any more details about her condition.
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"The zoo team is deeply saddened and shocked by the incident that occurred yesterday," Menita Prasad, the zoo's animal care manager, told reporters Tuesday.
"I've been with the facility for 15 years," she added, "and I've never experienced something like this."
The enclosure was closed Tuesday as local police and conservation officers investigated.
The bear will not be euthanized, said Insp. Murray Smith of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
There are two sets of fences bordering the bear enclosure. The first is made of low, wooden posts and beams with chain-link fencing. The second, about a metre ahead, is a taller chain-link fence.
It's yet not clear how the girl managed to reach the second fence. Prasad said the zoo is investigating.
"If there are areas for improvement, then yes, we will make the necessary changes," she said.
Prasad said the zoo has staff on site to respond to emergencies. She declined to say how the girl escaped.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo has about 600 animals, including several bears, lions and giraffes. The black bear enclosure houses three young bears, who came to the zoo as orphans in 2017.
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