Voters are deciding the name of the first polar bear born in the UK for 25 years - with the frontrunner currently being Hamish.

The four-month-old cub was born in December at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, Scotland.

The park has told supporters: "Now that we know the polar bear cub is a boy, we need your help to pick a name."

Views are polarised on what to name the park's adorable new addition, although the four names shortlisted by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) are Artor, Hamish, MacKinnon and Poulsen.

Image: Victoria the polar bear

The names pay tribute to Else Poulsen, a bear behaviourist who worked at the park before her death in 2016, and MacKinnon, the surname of a long-time supporter of RZSS.


The two other names have Scottish links: Artor is a Pictish name for a bear, while Hamish is said to be "ideal for a polar bear born in the Highlands".

Hamish and Artor are in reference to the bear's Scottish home.

The vote on Highland Wildlife Park's Facebook page is open until 26 April, but there is already a clear favourite.

Hamish has 5,341 votes, while the second placed Artor has 2,300.

Twitter users have also been coming up with their own ideas.

So - no Beary McBearface then? 🤣🤣 — Kate Dean (@KatDn7) April 20, 2018

My son was thinking Thrym - the Norse ice giant but Artos is a grand name for a young boy-bear to grow into! — Allison Parkinson (@Alliparks21) April 20, 2018

I thought Wallace would have been a good name. — Martyn McGhee (@martynmcghee1) April 20, 2018

The cub was born a week before Christmas, and has been spotted exploring his large enclosure with mother Victoria.

Victoria was born in Germany in 1996 and previously gave birth to another cub in Denmark.

Keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park had been trying to get her to mate with male Arktos, finally having success last year.

The park described the birth as "an outstanding achievement which will have interest across the world".

Polar bears are considered vulnerable in the wild as their habitat is being impacted by climate change.

A study this year found that they could face extinction sooner than previously thought, with many bears suffering from starvation.

What would you call the polar bear? Vote for your favourite name in our poll.