Polar bear returns to Highland Wildlife Park and brings his cousin for company

Polar bear, Brodie, and his cousin, Luka, have arrived at Highland Wildlife Park following upgrades to their enclosure.

Brodie, who is four years old, was moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in November 2025 to allow keepers to improve his habitat.

While in Yorkshire, Brodie bonded with his 14-year-old cousin, Luka, and so keepers have decided to move them both to the Highlands to keep each other company.

Brodie also met his brother Hamish for the first time, and it was a welcome distraction for the polar bear who had just lost his mum, Victoria, in May of last year.

On October 6, keepers introduced Brodie and Luka to their new “bachelor pad”, which has improved indoor areas and a water pool.

The polar bears love their new upgraded water pool. RZSS

The duo will be joining two other male polar bears, Arktos and Walker. Arktos is Brodie’s father, and Walker is his cousin.

Staff at Highland Wildlife Park will have a challenge on their hands as Brodie is described as “confident and a wee bit naughty.”

Animal operations manager, Lucy Petrie, said: “We’ve all really missed Brodie, so we 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.

“Brodie loves playing and testing boundaries, trying to pinch food and generally making a bit of a nuisance of himself.

“Luka is fourteen, 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 polar bear habitat can be viewed from the park’s footpaths and also from the drive-through reserve.