A HIGHLAND polar bear is receiving geriatric care after it was noted she was struggling to keep up with her cub.
Keepers at the Highland Wildlife park noticed Victoria, the park’s oldest polar bear who gave birth to Hamish in 2018 and Brodie, was suffering.
Hamish was the first cub to be born in the UK in 25 years.
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said keepers saw the 28-year-old struggling to keep up with Brodie and suspect is is due to pain in her joints, possibly connected to arthritis.
Arthritis can be common in older animals. Victoria is now on pain relief medication for her joint pain after tests showed her heart was in good health.
RZSS said: "Our keepers noticed her struggling to keep up with Brodie, and she had stopped demonstrating some physical behaviours such as climbing on her back legs.
"The vet team were asked to check on her to see if we could help.
"It was clear from her movements that Victoria has some pain in her joints, likely associated with arthritis which is very common in older animals."
It added: "As animals age, they can become more susceptible to age-related diseases such as arthritis, heart conditions, dental problems, and vision or hearing loss.
"Geriatric care involves regular health assessments to detect these issues early, allowing for timely intervention that can improve their quality of life and prevent serious complications."
