The first polar bear cub to be born in the UK in 25 years is moving from his Highland home to a park in England.
(Not so) Wee Hamish will move from where he currently lives with his mother Victoria at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie to Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s Project Polar habitat.
He is due to be transported by road by a team from his new home on Wednesday (November 4).
Born in December 2017 the popular bear, who made the headlines after becoming the first polar bear to be born here in a quarter of a century, is now bigger than his mother and keepers say it is now the right time for him to leave.
Over the past two years he's become a firm favourite with visitors and animal lovers across Scotland and was given his name after the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) drew up a shortlist for the public to vote on ahead of his grand entrance into the world.
His adorable antics have delighted both guests and keepers alike.
Rachel Williams, senior animal keeper at Highland Wildlife Park, said: “It has been an incredible two and a half years watching Hamish grow.
"He is a very playful bear who will be missed by everyone here at the park.
"Hamish has made a tremendous impression on the thousands of people who visited the park since his birth and helped to highlight the threats many species face in the wild."
After a recommendation from the European Endangered Species Programme, his keepers say it is now the right time for him to leave and begin a new life down south.
In the wild, polar bear cubs usually leave their mothers after two to three years.
The Highland Wildlife Park said Victoria and Arktos could be "paired up" again with Hamish's dad Arktos, next year.
Rachel added: “It is exciting to see him moving on and playing his part in the European Endangered Species Programme.
“We’re sure Victoria will appreciate some peace and quiet before any next steps in the breeding programme.
"All being well, we hope to pair her with Arktos again next year.”
It's been a busy year for the wildlife park, who also recently welcomed a rare male Amur tiger in future hopes for cubs.
