What's Happening With the Polar Bears at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?

There's some seriously cool news coming out of Yorkshire Wildlife Park. A new polar bear has just touched down for a bit of a holiday, arriving on 17th December 2025. His name is Brodie, and his trip south from Scotland could lead to a big family reunion. Why? Because his older brother, Hamish, already lives at the park. Imagine bumping into your big brother after five years apart – it’s going to be quite the event for these magnificent bears.

A holiday with a purpose

So, why has Brodie packed his bags and left Highland Wildlife Park? It’s not just for a change of scenery. His home enclosure in Scotland is getting a big makeover, so he needed a temporary new pad. And what better place than with the experts in Yorkshire, who have been looking after his brother Hamish for the last five years. It's a bit like staying with family while your room gets redecorated.

The team at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), who look after Highland Wildlife Park, are sad to see him go for a bit but know he's in the best possible hands. Daren McGarry, who is the head of living collections there, had this to say about the move:

“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. We can’t wait to see how they interact with each other when they are introduced in the future.”

Welcome to Project Polar

Brodie hasn't just moved into any old space. He’s now a resident of Project Polar, one of the largest polar bear reserves in the world. It’s a massive 10-acre habitat designed to feel just like the Arctic tundra of North Canada during the summer. Think lakes, hills, and plenty of space for roaming. It’s the perfect place for a polar bear to be a polar bear.

But he won't be alone for long. Project Polar is a bustling community of bears. The current residents who will soon become Brodie's new neighbours are:

• Hamish (his older brother)
• Nobby
• Luka
• Sisu
• Indiana
• Yuma

That's a lot of new faces for Brodie to meet! Each of these bears has their own personality, and seeing how they all interact is a huge part of the park's work in understanding and protecting these incredible at-risk species.

Making new friends, polar bear style

You can’t just throw a new bear into the mix and hope for the best. It's a slow and careful process, a bit like introducing a new pet to the ones you already have at home. The park’s expert Carnivore Team is managing the whole thing, making sure every bear feels safe and comfortable.

Dr Charlotte MacDonald, the Director of Animals at the park, explained the cautious approach.

“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 is important that he settles into his new home before he can meet the other polar bears. Any initial introduction will take place via a wire mesh to ensure all the bears are safe and relaxed.”

This mesh acts like a safety screen, letting them see and smell each other without any risk.

A new kid on the block

This is a big step for Brodie. He's used to living on his own or just with his mother, so being around a big group of older, more established bears is a whole new world. Bex Brown, who leads the Carnivore Team, explained what this means for the young polar bear:

’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.’

‘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! He is really interested to see them which is positive and over the next few weeks we will start to introduce him through the mesh to the other bears individually to see how they react to each other.’

And what about the family reunion? ‘Hamish is used to being the centre of attention so it will be interesting to see what he thinks to the new kid on the block!’ Sounds like there could be some classic brotherly dynamics at play!

More than just polar bears

The work at Yorkshire Wildlife Park is all about conservation. Project Polar is a vital part of international efforts to protect this vulnerable species, whose wild habitat is threatened. The park gives visitors a chance to see these amazing animals up close, fostering a connection that inspires people to care about their future.

And if you're planning a visit, there's a whole world of wildlife to discover beyond the polar bears. The park is home to other at-risk species like Black Rhinos and Giraffes. Plus, the Yorkshire Wildlife Resort has expanded to make a trip even more memorable. You can stay over at the Hex Wildlife Hotel or visit The Yorkshire Hive, a free-to-enter entertainment village with unique shopping and dining options. It’s a full day out, or even a mini-break, for anyone who loves animals and the great outdoors.