Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month.

Public will soon be able to help choose a name for him 

The first polar bear to be born in the UK for 25 years is a boy, staff at Highland Wildlife Park have confirmed.

Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month and has already taken his first swim. He was identified as male during his first routine health check yesterday (16 April).

Una Richardson, head keeper for carnivores, said he is “becoming more confident every day and he is doing very well”.

The public will soon be asked to help choose a name for the cub.

“It was very exciting to find out we have a little boy,” Una added. “Next we need to give him a name and our keepers are coming up with a suitable list which we will soon ask the public to choose from on social media.

“This will help us engage with as wide an audience as possible to raise awareness of the threats polar bears are facing in the wild and the need to protect this magnificent species.”

The zoo is reminding the public that the cub is still very young and is opening a lot of time in his cubbing den.

Image © Siân Addison/Royal Zoological Society of Scotland