Highland polar bear to meet his brother south of the border

A polar bear at the Highland Wildlife Park will travel across the border and meet his brother.

Brodie, Scotland’s youngest polar bear, will be temporarily moved to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park while building work is carried out in his habitat.

Keepers from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) are working with the almost four-year-old bear to practice crate training ahead of the move.

“While we will miss Brodie while he’s on his holidays, it is great to be able to fully concentrate on the work needed in his habitat,” Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS, said.

Brodie the polar bear is nearly four years old. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS)

Once settled in his holiday home, Brodie will be introduced to his older brother, Hamish, who moved to Yorkshire from Scotland five years ago.

“His brother Hamish has been amazingly cared for by the team down at Yorkshire and we know they will look after Brodie with the same expertise,” Mr McGarry said.

“We can’t wait to see how they interact with each other when they are introduced in the future.”

Dr Charlotte MacDonald, animal director at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said: “We are so looking forward to welcoming Brodie and seeing what he makes of his big brother Hamish and his other new friends here at Project Polar. It’ll be quite an experience for him.

“Personally, I am particularly excited as I used to work at RZSS and knew Brodie and Hamish’s mother, Victoria. She was a great mum to both boys.”

Arktos and Walker, the Highland Wildlife Park’s other male polar bears will still be visible to visitors, with their own habitat having recently been improved.

Visitors are encouraged to visit Brodie before November 30 to bid him farewell before his vacation.