Getting to 'nose' you (again)
The first move has been made at the Highland Wildlife Park with fingers crossed that it could result in the pitter-patter of tiny paws.
Arktos has moved in next door to resident female Victoria in the hope that the two polar bears will soon successfully breed at the attraction by Kincraig.
The pair have already produced Hamish who recently moved to his new home near Doncaster at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, where he will also hopefully set about boosting the polar bear population.
A spokeswoman for park owners the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said: "We may be closed but Arktos has managed to book a stay-cation next door to Victoria.
"It's early days but we'll be reintroducing these two during breeding season. If all goes well, we could be expecting the pitter patter of tiny paws later this year.
"Walker – in the bachelor pad – has begrudgingly accepted Arktos has an extended household between January and March, and is enjoying some time to himself for a change."
Hamish was the first polar bear cub to be born in the UK for 25 years.
Until his departure in November, last year, the cub had shared a large enclosure with his mother Victoria.
He had reached the age when mothers and their cubs would separate naturally in the wild.
The move also paved the way to allow 23-year-old Victoria to breed again and produce another cub, possibly for the last time due to her age.
Arktos and Walker share a large enclosure on the other side of the wildlife park to Victoria and are reported by their keepers to be the best of friends.
The wildlife park and Edinburgh Zoo – both owned and operated by the RZSS – have been hit hard by the economic impact of coronavirus and are currently closed to the public due to the national lockdown.
Find more on the wildlife park and how to donate here
