Polar Bear Brodie Has Arrived On Holiday At Yorkshire Wildlife Park

There's some big news from the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and it involves a very fluffy, very large new guest. A polar bear named Brodie has just arrived, not for good, but for a special sort of holiday. And the most exciting part?

He might just be reunited with his older brother, Hamish, who already lives at the park. This is more than just a family visit; it's a carefully planned trip that highlights the amazing work done for animal conservation.

Why the sudden move?

Imagine your room is being redecorated. You probably wouldn't stay there whilst the paint is flying, right? You might go and stay with a relative for a bit. Well, it's pretty much the same for Brodie the polar bear. His home at Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland is having some important building work done on his enclosure. To make sure he stays safe and happy, he's been sent on a temporary holiday down to Yorkshire.

This move, which happened on the 17th of December 2025, isn't just a simple case of packing a bag. It's a huge operation planned by experts to ensure the journey is smooth for such a large and important animal. His new temporary habitat at the park is all ready for him, giving the team in Scotland the time they need to spruce up his permanent enclosure. It's a great example of how different wildlife parks work together for the good of the animals they care for.

A big family reunion on the cards

This isn't Brodie's first connection to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. His older brother, Hamish, has been a resident at the park’s famous Project Polar for five years now! So, this holiday could turn into a proper family get-together. But, just like with people, you can't be sure if two brothers who haven't seen each other in years will get along straight away. The animal keepers will be watching them very closely to see how they react to one another.

Dr Charlotte MacDonald, the Director of Animals, explained the excitement and the caution. “We are delighted to welcome Brodie at Project Polar and are looking forward to seeing what he makes of his big brother Hamish and his other new friends here at Project Polar. It will be quite an experience for him! It may be a while before we can assess if Brodie can be introduced to Hamish and the other bears and we will be monitoring him closely.” It's all about making sure Brodie feels settled before he meets the other bears.

Making new friends: the polar bear way

You can't just put a new polar bear into a space with a group of other bears and hope for the best. Polar bears have their own complex social lives, and Brodie has a lot to learn. Think about it: it's like the first day at a new school. You have to figure out who's who and how to act. Bex Brown, who leads the Carnivore team at the wildlife park, points out that Brodie will need to develop a whole new set of social skills.

“It will be quite a change for Brodie who has been on his own for a while and before that was just with his mother. He will have to learn a whole new set of polar bear social skills as he gets to know the older adult bears here,” she said. The first step is a slow and safe introduction. Dr MacDonald added, “Any initial introduction will take place via a wire mesh to ensure all the bears are safe and relaxed.” This special mesh allows the bears to see and smell each other without any risk, a bit like chatting to your neighbour over the garden fence before inviting them round for a cuppa. The other bears are already curious. “The other bears are very interested now that they have seen him in the distance though I think he is probably wondering ‘ who are all these bears!,” Bex noted. It sounds like Hamish, who is used to being the star, will have some competition!

What is project polar?

Brodie's holiday home, Project Polar, is no ordinary enclosure. It’s a massive 10-acre space specially designed to be like the Arctic tundra of North Canada in the summer. It’s a carefully created habitat with lakes, hills, and open spaces, giving these magnificent animals plenty of room to roam, play, and behave naturally. It’s a world-class centre for polar bear conservation and care.

Brodie isn’t the only resident, of course. He’s joining a whole gang of other bears! The current residents of Project Polar are:

• Nobby
• Hamish (Brodie's brother)
• Luka
• Sisu
• Indiana
• Yuma

Daren McGarry, from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, knows Brodie will be in good hands.

“While we will miss Brodie while he is on his holidays, it is great to be able to fully concentrate on the work needed in his habitat. His brother Hamish has been amazingly cared for by the team down at Yorkshire and we know they will look after Brodie with the same expertise.”

It's clear that the well-being of these at-risk species is everyone's top priority.

More than just polar bears

The arrival of Brodie is brilliant news for visitors, who might get a chance to see the new polar bear as he settles in. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is dedicated to conservation, and it’s a place where visitors can see some of the world's most beautiful and at-risk animals up close. The park is home to many species, not just the famous polar bears. People can see everything from Black Rhinos to Giraffes and African Painted Dogs.

For those wanting to extend their stay, the experience doesn’t stop at the park gates. The resort also has The Hex Wildlife Hotel and The Yorkshire Hive, a shopping, dining, and entertainment village. It means a trip to see Brodie and his brother Hamish could be part of a much bigger adventure, offering a fantastic experience for all visitors who come to see the incredible animals and support the vital conservation work of the wildlife park.