Britain's only polar bear to be moved to northern retreat

The capitol's resident polar bear will soon be moved from her enclosure in Edinburgh Zoo to a new, larger exhibit in the Highland Wildlife Park, it was confirmed last week.

The polar bear, named "Mercedes" after the car company that paid to transport her from Canada to Edinburgh, has lived in Edinburgh Zoo since 1984.

Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland (RZSS), David Windmill, said “Mercedes has been at Edinburgh Zoo for 25 years and has been a favourite with both visitors and staff, and I know her keepers will be sad to see her go.

"However she’s still in the RZSS animal collection and the Highland Wildlife Park is a much more suitable environment for a polar bear."

Following the success of a public appeal for the polar bear to be moved from her present exhibit, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) was able to raise the £75,000 necessary to fund the transfer.

The enclosure at the Highlands Wildlife Park will be around four acres in size, placing it among the largest polar bear enclosures in Europe, and will feature a natural tundra environment and large pool.

The park will also use its new attraction to promote climate change awareness by giving visitors information on how climate change is affecting similar animals in the wild.

There has been much controversy surrounding Mercedes’ current enclosure in Edinburgh Zoo. Ross Minett, campaigns director for the Edinburgh-based animal rights organization Advocates For Animals, told The Journal: "Advocates for Animals has been very concerned and critical of Mercedes' enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo for many years. It is pitifully small and barren."

However, Minett was optimistic for the bear’s future in the Highlands Wildlife Park, stating: “The new enclosure that she is to be moved to will give her more space. Any improvement on her current situation is of course to be welcomed.”

In an interview with STV last year, Iain Valentine, director of Animals, Conservation and Education at the RZSS, admitted that public concern regarding the polar bear’s Edinburgh enclosure was problematic: “Her existing enclosure is perfectly adequate but public perception has always been that they would like to see her in a larger enclosure.”

The polar bear’s move owes much to a group of soldiers from 75 Engineer Regiment and the Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers.

By volunteering to build the required structures, including the enclosure, a viewing platform, the road to the enclosure and its car park, the soldiers were able to bring costs down from an estimated £300,000 to a more manageable £75,000.

Mercedes’ last day at Edinburgh Zoo will be Sunday 18 October, after which she will be driven to the highlands in a transport crate. It has been estimated that the polar bear will be presented to the public in her new home by the end of the month.