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UK’s only polar bear cub is male, zoo confirms
Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month.

Public will soon be able to help choose a name for him 

The first polar bear to be born in the UK for 25 years is a boy, staff at Highland Wildlife Park have confirmed.

Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month and has already taken his first swim. He was identified as male during his first routine health check yesterday (16 April).

Una Richardson, head keeper for carnivores, said he is “becoming more confident every day and he is doing very well”.

The public will soon be asked to help choose a name for the cub.

“It was very exciting to find out we have a little boy,” Una added. “Next we need to give him a name and our keepers are coming up with a suitable list which we will soon ask the public to choose from on social media.

“This will help us engage with as wide an audience as possible to raise awareness of the threats polar bears are facing in the wild and the need to protect this magnificent species.”

The zoo is reminding the public that the cub is still very young and is opening a lot of time in his cubbing den.

Image © Siân Addison/Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

 

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.