Two polar bears at the Highland Wildlife Park are proving to be best of friends only weeks after meeting each other.
Walker and Arktos were introduced to each other last month, but were being kept apart until they got acquainted.
The pair are now sharing a large five-acre enclosure at the park and are often seen sleeping nose to nose.
Three-year-old Walker was due to be joined by a female mate, but the polar bear intended for the park was found to be already pregnant.
Arktos was drafted in instead, as company for Walker, before the pair both reach an age of sexual maturity.
Una Richardson, Highland Wildlife Park head keeper, said: "We managed Arktos and Walker’s introduction gradually so that the polar bears did not feel overwhelmed by each other’s presence, and to start with we separated both bears at night.
"We had really only started to introduce them for longer periods of time during the day when we spotted Arktos was missing Walker at night, whining and trying to get into the main enclosure to be with him.
"A great indicator for us that the bears were ready to take the next step, we let them move in together permanently into the main enclosure. Both have been together ever since."
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