Heart-warming video shows polar bear cub at Highland Wildlife Park

Footage has been released of a one-month-old cub at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig.

A clip shared by the wildlife conservation charity shows the little one wriggling and rolling over.

The baby bear is then seen settling down for a sleep in the cubbing den with mum Victoria close by.

Visitors will not be able to see the youngster yet as both mum and cub are settled in the off-show den to give them peace and quiet during the first sensitive few months.

Staff confirmed last month that a polar bear cub was born at the Wildlife Park.

Mum Victoria gave birth to her second cub after mating with dad Arktos during the breeding season last February.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which runs the park in the Cairngorms, said staff were delighted when they first heard the distinct high-pitched cub sounds coming from the den.

Vickie Larkin, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park said at the time that it was a "tremendous occasion" and a "testament" to the team's hard-work.

She said: "Victoria is a very attentive mother and we're pleased to say they are both doing well so far.

"We will not know if the little one is a boy or girl until we are able to perform health checks in the spring and they will be named shortly after.

"Polar bears are born blind and do not open their eyes until they are a month old."

Arktos and Victoria's previous cub, Hamish, was the UK's first polar bear cub in 25 years, when he was born in December 2017.

As part of the breeding programme for the species, Hamish moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in November 2020.

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