Highland polar bear breeding scheme gets under way

A scheme to breed the first polar bears in Scotland has begun.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is working with staff at Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie, as part of a European breeding programme.

A specially-built crate, which will be used to transport male bear Arktos to the enclosure of his breeding partner Victoria, has been moved into place.

Male and female polar bears live apart in the wild and keepers are hopeful that the crate means Arktos will not need a sedative.

Polar bear cubs were last born in the UK almost 25 years ago.

The bears that are shown together in this footage are the wildlife park's male bears Arktos and Walker.