There are two polar bears settling into life at Highland Wildlife Park after much loved Brodie returned home from Yorkshire with his older cousin Luka alongside him.

Four year old Brodie left the Highlands for Yorkshire Wildlife Park in November 2025 while renovations were carried out to his habitat, but with the work complete he made the journey home on Tuesday 6 October with a new companion.

During his time away, Brodie became close to 14 year old Luka, and the decision was taken for the older bear to move north too so the pair could continue the relationship they had developed in Yorkshire.

It is a friendship which appears to work partly because the two bears could hardly be more different, with young Brodie full of energy, curiosity and mischief while Luka takes a rather more mature view of proceedings.

Highland Wildlife Park animal operations manager Lucy Petrie said:

“The boy is back!

“We’ve all really missed Brodie so are thrilled to have him back with us.

“We’ll have our work cut out.

“He’s young, energetic, confident but also a wee bit naughty.

“Brodie loves playing and testing boundaries, trying to pinch food and generally making a bit of a nuisance of himself.

“Luka is fourteen so he doesn’t have plenty of patience for Brodie’s scampish ways.

“His whole attitude is ‘I’m too old for this’ and that really balances them out.

“It’s a lovely relationship.”

Brodie’s return follows extensive work on the polar bear habitat at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland park, with improvements made to the indoor accommodation, water pool and fencing.

The renovated habitat can be seen from the park’s footpaths as well as from the drive through reserve, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to catch up with Brodie and meet Luka for the first time.

For staff who have spent almost a year without one of the park’s biggest characters, Brodie’s return is clearly something worth celebrating, although judging by Petrie’s description, it may not be long before he reminds everyone exactly why they missed him.

And for Luka, life in the Highlands now comes with the considerable challenge of keeping an eye on a four year old cousin who likes stealing food, testing boundaries and generally making a nuisance of himself.

It sounds as though the older bear may have his work cut out too.

Visitors looking to visit Brodie and Luka can book tickets online at highlandwildlifepark.com/tickets