Heythrop still have the female bear Zara, unless something's happened I haven't heard about, but she's only visible to the public a couple of days a year. Other than that, it's just Highland's two males (Arktos and Walker) - for now!
When bears arrive here I will have Polar Bears under an hour's drive from home. Can't wait!
Hopefully this will signal a long term commitment to the species in the UK. I look forward to the day that they return to Whipsnade (though I doubt they actually ever will!)
So what is the timescale for construction/arrival/opening? Is it a large enclosure?
It will be ready soon - I understand at least one of the four enclosures is basically ready for occupation. The whole complex is meant to be 10 acres (including four bear enclosures, housing and visitor areas).
They might have a car available but the bears will need to be on display in the daytime, so they would only be free to visit Maguari in the evening- for barbecued seal perhaps?
I see that mass Conifer planting has started on the top of the bank, so according to the plans, this is probably the rear of the whole thing?
I worked out(not too difficult that each of the four enclosures will be about 2 and a bit acres in size. It looks like they are going for a tundra-type effect with the several pools in each enclosure and conifer backdrop.
