The Swiss capital of Bern has what animal as it's official symbol?
Bear.
Nope ... sorry.
If you are referring to Canton of Bern then its Black Eagle. But the City of Bern and Canton of Bern are different...Bern is a city while Canton of Bern is state. The City of Bern has the Bear as its official symbol (thats what I read)...I could be wrong.
You're correct, Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded the city in 1101 and alledgedly named it after a bear, and that's why it's official
symbol and flag has a bear on it. However, the official
animal of Bern, Switzerland is something
different. Anyone?
TP for your research, though, BFM, (I'll have to owe you another ... you don't let me catch up!

)