GOING WILD: Saying goodbye to Victoria the UK’s oldest polar bear

The recent passing of Victoria, the UK’s oldest polar bear, has brought a quiet moment of reflection at Highland Wildlife Park, where she had lived since 2015.

At 28 years old she was the UK’s oldest polar bear and had far outlived the average lifespan of polar bears in the wild, where the average lifespan is closer to 18.

Victoria’s age alone was a testament to the high standard of care provided by our dedicated team of keepers and vets at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

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Sad day for the strath as Victoria put to sleep aged 28

For months she had been receiving specialised geriatric treatment to address some age-related health issues.

After some initial improvement, we ultimately began to note a significant deterioration in her health and had to make the difficult but humane decision to put her to sleep.

It’s never an easy choice but it’s one that responsible zoos and wildlife parks must face when animals reach a point where a good quality of life can no longer be maintained.

Everyone at RZSS has been very moved and appreciative of the outpouring of support from Scotland and abroad.

During her decade in the Highlands, Victoria had become a familiar sight for visitors, many of whom cited seeing Victoria as the absolute highlight of their visit, clearly taken by her gentle nature and playful personality.

Her popularity soared during the years that she was raising her cubs - first Hamish in 2017 and later Brodie in 2021.

Hamish made headlines as the first polar bear cub born in the UK for 25 years, and both births were major milestones for the park.

She was loved by many of the keepers and vets at the park as well, who reported that she was a good and caring mum, and a gentle, good-natured bear.

As CEO of the organisation, I was fortunate to be able to spend a bit of time to say my own goodbye the day before she was due to be euthanised and spent a happy 30 minutes feeding her blueberries – her absolute favourite treat.

I’m sure that Strathy readers will be aware of the increasing pressure facing polar bears in the wild, as climate change has led to a rapid increase sea ice melting, which drastically threatens their ability to hunt and survive as well as increasing the risk of human and polar bear conflict.

So the role of polar bears like Victoria in educating and sparking curiosity in the plight of that species shouldn’t be understated. Watching her raise her cubs and behave naturally gave people the chance to connect with the species in a way that’s simply not possible through screens or books alone.

That kind of emotional connection often leads to greater support for conservation efforts — something that zoos and wildlife parks play a key role in.

Her cubs are now part of the European breeding programme and will help to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population of polar bears in zoos.

Now that Victoria is gone, she leaves behind a legacy that’s both practical and educational.

Her life, and the thoughtful way her final months were handled, reflect the careful balance between care, science, and ethics that underpins modern zoo work.

Although it has been very sad to say goodbye, I’m hopeful that her impact - both on visitors and conservation - will continue long after her enclosure has fallen quiet.

David Field is chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

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