Watch polar bears playing in heavy snow at Highland wildlife park

Polar bears were filmed having the time of their life at a wildlife park in the Highlands during heavy snow.

Arktos and Walker, a beloved duo of male polar bears, reside at Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie and were filmed playing in the snow this week.

The pair can be seen rolling around in heavy snow as wintry conditions hit the north of the country to kick off 2026.

Scotland faced a snowstorm with hundreds of schools closed in Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands and Orkney and Shetland.

Arktos was born in November 2007, and Walker in December 2008.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which owns the park, said they are friends who enjoy chasing, wrestling, swimming and eating together.

Polar bears are iconic apex predators that live in one of Earth’s harshest environments – the Arctic.

They have many adaptations which allow them to thrive in exceptionally cold environments.

These include thick blubber and dense, water-repellent fur provide exceptional insulation. Their large paws act as snowshoes and powerful paddles for navigating snow, ice and water.

As carnivores, they tend to hunt seals. They ambush them at breathing holes or stalk them on the ice. This food source is crucial for their survival.

Due to climate change, Arctic sea ice is melting. This poses a significant threat to polar bear populations. It impacts their hunting grounds, breeding habitats and long-term survival.