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Mercedes, the only captive polar bear in Britain who had spent 25 years at Edinburgh Zoo, has recently been moved to a Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie, in an attempt to move her closer to her natural habitat.
Ross Minett, director of Edinburgh-based Advocates for Animals, had said in 2005 that Mercedes was “going crazy in her pathetic, small enclosure” which consisted of a stone-built pen, around 40m in diameter with rocks, logs and a small moat – the zoo committee had reviewed the case and decided to move her. The new £300,000 enclosure is the size of four football pitches and includes a large natural pool.
David Windmill, chief executive of Edinburgh Zoo, said he was sad to see her go, but knew it was in Mercedes’ best interests. He said: “Watching her leave was extremely poignant, but she will have a lot more land to roam in the new place, which is the main thing – we greatly enjoyed having Mercedes here because she was not just a cute fluffy bear to look at”
The bear had initially been rescued from a death sentance in Churchill, Manitoba when she was a three year old adolescent. She had been roaming around for food and at the time there was a “three strikes” policy for bears that deemed a threat to local residents.
It is hoped that the new enclosure will provide a better quality of life for Mercedes, who had become depressed since her partner Barney, with whom she had two cubs, died 13 years ago leaving her widowed and made her Britains lone polar bear – zoo officials said they will not be replacing Mercedes when she dies
Links:
* http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/
* http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/
Mercedes being released into her new home at the Highland Wildlife Park
