THE UK’s only polar bear cub celebrated his first birthday at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park on Tuesday.
Keepers at the wildlife conservation charity helped Brodie mark the milestone with a birthday ice-cake made of carrot, hot dogs, apples, cod liver oil and a peanut butter frosting.
The cub was spotted sharing his birthday cake with mum Victoria who also celebrated a birthday this week, turning 26 on Monday.
The bear’s name was chosen by the winner of a prize draw ran by RZSS to raise funds for Scotland’s wildlife discovery centre.
Carnivore team leader Vickie Larkin said: “We are all delighted to wish Brodie a happy first birthday. He has settled in so well and is one of the park’s biggest personalities.
“Brodie is an amazing ambassador for his cousins in the wild. Seeing polar bears like Brodie up close is a great way to connect with nature and raise awareness of the threats the species face in the wild.”
Brodie took his first steps outside in March 2022. In the wild, polar bear cubs will stay with their mothers for two to three years, learning key survival skills before leaving to start their own families.
Visitors are able to see Brodie and Victoria at Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore, which is open from 10am to 4pm during the winter.
