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Sardines to lure Highland Wildlife Park polar bear on scales Sardines lure Highland Wildlife Park polar bear on scales
(about 4 hours later)
Sardines are being used to help staff weigh a polar bear at a Scottish wildlife park. Sardines have been used to help staff weigh a polar bear at a Scottish wildlife park.
Three-year-old Walker arrived at the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kincraig, in December 2010 when he weighed about 39 stone (248 kg).Three-year-old Walker arrived at the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kincraig, in December 2010 when he weighed about 39 stone (248 kg).
Keepers believe he could now be about 62 stone (395 kg) and could weigh 80 and 110 stone (500 to 700 kg) once fully grown at five to six years old. Keepers have now weighed him at 63 stone (403 kg). He could weigh 80 and 110 stone (500 to 700 kg) once fully grown at five to six years old.
Staff will tempt Walker onto the scales with sardines, his favourite food. Staff tempted Walker onto the scales with sardines, his favourite food.
He is the only polar bear on public display in the UK.He is the only polar bear on public display in the UK.
Walker was also one of two polar bear cubs at the centre of a controversy last year over the BBC's Frozen Planet documentary series.Walker was also one of two polar bear cubs at the centre of a controversy last year over the BBC's Frozen Planet documentary series.
An episode featured the cubs in a den with their mother, with many people assuming they were born and filmed in the Arctic.An episode featured the cubs in a den with their mother, with many people assuming they were born and filmed in the Arctic.
But the cubs were actually in a Dutch zoo, as revealed in behind-the-scenes footage on the show's website.But the cubs were actually in a Dutch zoo, as revealed in behind-the-scenes footage on the show's website.
The BBC defended the footage and denied misleading viewers.The BBC defended the footage and denied misleading viewers.
Walker had shared an enclosure at the wildlife park with an elderly female polar bear called Mercedes. She had to be put to sleep in April.Walker had shared an enclosure at the wildlife park with an elderly female polar bear called Mercedes. She had to be put to sleep in April.
The previous year Mercedes was weighed and tipped the scales at 45 stone (291kg).The previous year Mercedes was weighed and tipped the scales at 45 stone (291kg).
Una Richardson, the head keeper responsible for Walker, said the male bear had grown considerably since arriving at the park.Una Richardson, the head keeper responsible for Walker, said the male bear had grown considerably since arriving at the park.
'Bachelor lifestyle''Bachelor lifestyle'
She said: "Knowing precisely what he weighs gives us a very good indication of how well he is doing, and should we need to anaesthetise him for any reason, or give him any medication, knowing what he weighs allows us to give him a more accurate and therefore a more effective dose.She said: "Knowing precisely what he weighs gives us a very good indication of how well he is doing, and should we need to anaesthetise him for any reason, or give him any medication, knowing what he weighs allows us to give him a more accurate and therefore a more effective dose.
"Weighing Walker is a two-person job - one of us has to be ready to take the weight reading, and the other has to get Walker on to the scales. We find tempting him with sardines - his favourite food - does the trick."Weighing Walker is a two-person job - one of us has to be ready to take the weight reading, and the other has to get Walker on to the scales. We find tempting him with sardines - his favourite food - does the trick.
"He is a big boy already and is not even a fully-grown polar bear yet.""He is a big boy already and is not even a fully-grown polar bear yet."
Ms Richardson added: "We have hopes of getting Walker a mate some time this year, but at the moment he is enjoying his bachelor lifestyle."Ms Richardson added: "We have hopes of getting Walker a mate some time this year, but at the moment he is enjoying his bachelor lifestyle."
In December, plans to pair up Walker with a female mate were delayed because the bear that was selected was thought to have already been pregnant.In December, plans to pair up Walker with a female mate were delayed because the bear that was selected was thought to have already been pregnant.