A polar bear has returned to his birthplace in Scotland following an extended stay at a wildlife facility in northern England. Brodie, born at Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore in December 2021, spent almost a year at Doncaster's Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort while essential maintenance work was completed on his enclosure in Scotland.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) confirmed that Brodie has now made the journey back north, accompanied by Luka, an older bear with whom he formed a close bond during his time in Yorkshire. The two animals will continue their relationship at the Highland Wildlife Park, where keepers have observed a dynamic that benefits both creatures.
Lucy Petrie, animal operations manager at Highland Wildlife Park, expressed enthusiasm about Brodie's return to the facility.
We've all really missed Brodie so are thrilled to have him back with us. We'll have our work cut out. He's young, energetic, confident but also a wee bit naughty.
Petrie elaborated on Brodie's personality and his relationship with his older companion.
Brodie loves playing and testing boundaries, trying to pinch food and generally making a bit of a nuisance of himself. Luka is 14 so he doesn't have plenty of patience for Brodie's scampish ways. His whole attitude is 'I'm too old for this' and that really balances them out. It's a lovely relationship.
The broader polar bear population at Highland Wildlife Park
The Scottish facility now houses four male polar bears in total. In addition to Brodie and Luka, the park is home to Arktos and Walker. The Highland Wildlife Park holds significant historical importance in British polar bear conservation: it was the birthplace of Hamish, who made history in 2017 as the first polar bear cub born in the United Kingdom in 25 years. Hamish now resides at Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort, the same facility where Brodie spent the past year.
