Polar bear cub makes first splash in outdoor pool
The youngster is yet to be given a name as keepers have been unable to work out its gender.
The UK’s only polar bear born in the last 25 years has taken a swim in a large outdoor pool for the first time, with its mother there to help it along.
The youngster, based at a special enclosure in the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie, seemed to enjoy having a splash about in the water.
The cub, which is nearly three-and-a-half months old, is growing in size and confidence, increasingly venturing a bit further away from mother Victoria when they are outside.
A list of names has been drawn up by those at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s park, but this remains top secret.
The cub’s growth in confidence has continued since first being let out of its indoor enclosure towards the end of March.
It was born in the week before Christmas, with Victoria having mated with Arktos, one of two male polar bears at the park.
The birth of the youngster in December was confirmed by high-pitched noises coming from inside the den.
Despite becoming more adventurous, the cub still needs regular naps throughout the day, so they are both still spending a lot of time in and around their base.
