Park polar bear cub is a boy

Highland Wildlife Park has announced its newest polar bear is a boy. The three-month-old cub, born to Victoria, recently underwent a routine health check where the team were able to confirm the gender.

He is the UK’s youngest polar bear – and a brother to Hamish, who was the first cub to be born in the UK for 25 years back in 2017.

The wildlife park, near Kingussie, will be asking the public to help name him in the coming weeks.

Keith Gilchrist, animal collection manager at the park, said: “After watching Victoria and her cub closely on CCTV over the winter, it is very exciting to find out we have a little boy and that he is in good health.

“He is already becoming more confident every day and it is incredible to see him grow and develop.

“In the coming weeks, we are going to be asking the public for their help in naming our newest arrival.”

Mr Gilchrist said that public viewing is still closed to help give Victoria and the cub some peace and quiet.

However, in a few weeks, the cub will be introduced to his large outdoor enclosure, where the public will be able to try to spot him.

Mr Gilchrist added: “Like all the animals in our care, our polar bears play an important role in attracting and engaging thousands of visitors to the park each year so they can learn about the threats animals face in the wild and the action they can take to help them.

“Their power to connect people with nature and encourage behaviour change is invaluable.

“We will be sure to keep everyone updated when the cub starts to explore outdoors.”

Big brother Hamish brought droves of visitors to the park, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

However, he was moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in October 2020 as part of a breeding programme.

BEARING UP WELL: The baby polar bear gets a health check from a vet at Highland Wildlife Park.