Kincraig is going on a polar bear hunt – and you can join in !
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The Kincraig community are celebrating their local connection to Scotland’s only polar bears with a new light trail this winter which they hope to turn into an annual tradition in the area.
Kincraig’s ‘Polar Bear Trail’ starts today and will run until the end of the month with QR codes on the bears directing trail explorers to more information and activity sheets provided by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland discovery and learning team.
As part of the event, there is also a chance to win tickets to the wildlife conservation charity’s
Highland Wildlife Park to visit the four polar bears who live there.
Ian Ash, on the board of the village hall committee, said “Last Christmas a little polar bear appeared at the base of the village Christmas tree in Kincraig and it became a very popular little bear.
"This year, we wanted to plan a celebration of bears to come out into the community over the festive period and were thrilled when the RZSS team at Highland Wildlife Park were able to help.
“We also want to thank all the polar bear supporters in Kincraig, the Christmas Lights Crew and the pupils at Alvie Primary School who have supported the trail by naming the bears and placing items on each one to help identify them.”
Jess Wise, RZSS discovery and learning programme manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said, “It has been wonderful to work with the Kincraig community to develop this polar bear trail and celebrate the special relationship we have with our local village.
“Partnerships like this show just how impactful the amazing animals we care for can be. With the
help of Brodie, Victoria, Arktos and Walker, we are able to reach people beyond our boundaries and inspire them to protect, value and love the wildlife we have on our doorstep here in the Cairngorms and around the world.”
Trail organisers have challenged local people to find all the bears before the New Year. The first bear can be found at the Show Home for Baldow Meadows Estate and the route finishes at number ten, bottom of the Brae. There are two bonus bears outside the village and paper copies of trail maps and activity sheets available across the village.
