Mercedes, the UK’s only polar bear in a zoo, has been unveiled to the public in her new Highland home.
She made the trip by road from Edinburgh Zoo to the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie.
Having had a few days to settle into her new custom-built four-acre enclosure, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, she was finally introduced to her public on Thursday morning.
Mercedes had been in Edinburgh for 25 years. She was rescued from her native Canada after a last minute reprieve saved her from being shot.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) plans to move Mercedes from Edinburgh Zoo to the Highland Wildlife Park earlier this year.
The original estimations put the cost of a new enclosure at £300,000. However, a team of soldiers from the Army donated their time, skills and equipment to help build parts of the enclosure which drastically reduced the cost to £75,000. The remaining funds required were raised following a successful public appeal.
Douglas Richardson, Animal Collection Manager at the Highland Wildlife Park, said:"The transfer on Monday went very smoothly. Our colleagues at Edinburgh Zoo had been training Mercedes to walk into her transport crate for a few months so she walked in without any apprehension.
“Her crate was lifted onto a lorry and she travelled up the A9 which took around three hours. When she arrived here, she walked out of her crate and immediately began investigating her indoor dens and holding pen.
“She has settled in very well and we're looking forward to seeing her explore her outdoor enclosure which, at around four acres, is one of the largest polar bear enclosures in the world."
David Windmill, Chief Executive of RZSS said: "Mercedes has been an extremely popular animal at Edinburgh Zoo and watching her leave was a poignant experience. We have been gradually moving animals that are better suited to colder climates from Edinburgh Zoo up to the Highland Wildlife Park and Mercedes is the latest of these moves.”
Last updated: 22 October 2009, 19:15
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