Two new polar bears join Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the space of two weeks! It’s been a busy few months for YWP, as they’ve had three new polar bears arrive and three of the bears from the Park have set off on their own journeys as part of the European breeding in the space of three weeks.
Two new bears have been shipped over from Europe as part of Project Polar so they can grow up together and learn their social skills before “they too are ready to move into the breeding programme.”
Sisu is the latest arrival, who arrived on Sunday from Finland. He will be joining Hamish and Nobby along with the other new arrival Luka – who arrived from Germany last week.
They are all part of the European breeding and conservation programme that aims to save the under-threat species.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park announced the new arrivals on their social media channels today saying: “📢 Exciting POLAR BEAR Update!! 📢
Sisu, our latest arrival from Finland is settling into Project Polar with his new friends Nobby, Hamish & Luka 🐻❄️”
Sisu is four years old and has come from Ranua Wildlife Park in Lapland, and Luka is from Wuppertal Zoo, near Dusseldorf, in Germany. They join Hamish, who recently travelled down from Scotland to join Nobby at the YWP. Hamish was the first polar bear to be born in the UK, so he’ll get them settled into their new home.
YWP’s Carnivore Team Leader, Kim Wilkins said, “We are so happy to welcome both Luka and Sisu to the growing family of polar bears. Luka has been settling in really well so far and we were able to introduce him to Nobby and Hamish very soon after his arrival as he was so laid back and he is getting on with them tremendously. Sisu is more cautious but we are sure that he will settle quickly into Project Polar and enjoy the space and company of the other young bears.
📢 Exciting POLAR BEAR Update!! 📢
— Yorkshire Wildlife Park (@YorkshireWP) December 15, 2020
Project Polar is now home to Nobby, Hamish, Luka & Sisu 🐻❄️
Our newest boy Sisu has recently arrived from Finland and is settling into Project Polar with his new friends 📺
Read even more here: https://t.co/FugQg8UdOb pic.twitter.com/YpC1fFpvBs
“With Hamish also just joining us this year, the Project Polar reserve is turning into a real hotspot for visitors all over the UK and we can’t wait for everyone to come and meet Luka and Sisu.”
Dr. Matt Hartley, Head of Animals at the park, added, “We are all very excited to have Luka and Sisu here at the park, and to be part of the key efforts for polar bear conservation in Europe. I am sure that the new arrivals will enjoy the space and complex environment of Project Polar, with its series of interlinked reserves, lakes and caves. It is a great place for young bears to explore and have fun together. ”
Read More: Yorkshire Wildlife Park Has Just Welcomed Rare Red Pandas, Otters and Monkeys To The Zoo
