Hopes of the UK’s first polar bear cub in nearly 25 years have been dashed.
Scotland’s only female polar bear is not pregnant after all, bosses at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Highland Wildlife Park confirmed today.
Victoria had put on a staggering 440 pounds plus in weight.
Staff at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig had kept the polar bear well-fed on fish and vegetables as she prepared to apparently give birth.
She was put out of public viewing in October because it is believed she was pregnant after mating with Arktos – one of the two male polar bears at the zoo – in the spring.
But Douglas Richardson, Head of Living Collections at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, said today: “Victoria, our female polar bear, has now gone past the last possible date for giving birth this year.
“Although we never knew for certain that she was pregnant as there is no proven pregnancy test for polar bears, all of the observed behaviours indicated that Victoria might be and it was appropriate for us to manage her as if she was.
“Last year provided very valuable behavioural observations and it gave us a better insight into Victoria’s specific personality and preferences, which will be used to inform how we proceed with her in 2017. Victoria is now back on show to visitors.”
Polar bears usually give birth to twins, with new-born cubs being around the same size and weight as an adult guinea pig. The last polar bear cub born in the UK was in 1992 at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire.
And the last born in Scotland was on November 15, 1991 when female Ohoto was the second cub to Mercedes at Edinburgh Zoo. Mercedes had previously given birth to male Minty at the zoo in 1988.
There is no pregnancy tests for polar bears but Victoria showed all the signs of being with cub – including the massive weight gain and regular visits to her her specially built birthing den. The failure of Victoria to produce a cub echoes Scotland’s pandas.
Female Tian Tian, which means Sweetie, and male Yang Guang, meaning Sunshine arrived at Edinburgh Zoo six years ago but, despite the best efforts of zookeepers, have so far failed to produce a cub.
Vickie Larkin, Head Carnivore Keeper at the Highland Wildlife Park – which like Edinburgh Zoo is run by the RZSS – said the polar bear breeding window is very short, between one and three weeks.