A family of polar bears has arrived at a zoo on the edge of the Peak District. The polar bear mother and her twin cubs will be housed in a specially-designed five-acre habitat which has been created at Peak Wildlife Park, in Winkhill, just over an hour's drive from Nottingham.
The polar animals arrived in the UK from Orsa Rovdjurspark (Orsa Predator Park) in Sweden, following the Scandinavian park's closure, reports Derbyshire Live. The cubs, Nanook and Noori, are 19 months old and were born at Orsa in November 2021.
Their mum, Hope, was born in Antibes, France, in 2014. The trio is already at Peak Wildlife Park but is not due to go on show to the public until August, with an exact date yet to be confirmed.
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James Butler, Peak Wildlife Park director, told Stoke-on-Trent Live: "We are delighted to be welcoming these magnificent polar bears to Peak Wildlife Park.
"Their arrival marks an important milestone in our commitment to conservation and education. We have created an enclosure that prioritises their welfare while offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate these incredible animals."
The polar bear relocation has been organised by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) European Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for polar bears. Peak Wildlife Park said its new habitat includes deep ponds, rugged terrain and space for the bears to roam and engage in a range of natural behaviours.
Head zookeeper Yasmin Walker said: "Our team has invested countless hours into creating a habitat that gives the bears the space and opportunity to express as wide a range of their behavioural repertoire as possible.
"We have worked closely with experts in polar bear care and behaviour to ensure the exhibit meets the highest standards of welfare. We are confident that this new home will provide a stimulating and enriching environment for the bears."
A Peak Wildlife Park spokesman said: "We have spared no effort in constructing a large state-of-the-art home that provides the bears with the quality space that they need which will be coupled with a dynamic enrichment and husbandry programme aimed at ensuring the highest welfare standards.
"We have tried to ensure that the bears’ new home is compatible with their former enclosure at Orsa, hopefully ensuring as seamless a transition for the bears as possible. Visitors can look forward to observing these awe-inspiring creatures in their new surroundings and learning more about the conservation efforts dedicated to their preservation."
