Two polar bears will be introduced in the latest stage of a breeding programme for the at-risk species.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has begun preparations for Arktos and Victoria to meet at Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie.

Arktos is now getting used to his new environment with the help of a large transportation case which has been placed in his enclosure.

Following the move in March, the bears will live separately but in close proximity to one another until their behaviour indicates that signs are right for the full introduction.

Douglas Richardson, head of living collections at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, said: "The two bears will be able to communicate and interact through a secure large fence to start with. We fully expect to see them showing an interest in each other right away.

"As with any introduction of large predators, the process must be approached slowly and carefully, paying close attention to positive behavioural indicators, like vocalisations and body posture.

"Whether we wait until Victoria comes into full breeding condition before mixing them together will depend on how they react to each other in the build-up to that key point."

Mr Richardson said conserving the endangered species is "definitely not simple" but a healthy captive population "may provide a solution to the species' plight".

He added: "In an ideal world, conservation would happen first and foremost in the wild, but unfortunately this is not the scenario we are dealing with.

"The zoo community has a duty of care to help this species survive and collectively our work is helping to preserve as varied a mix of genes as possible. It will also maintain the option of being able to return animals to the wild at some point in the future."

If Victoria gives birth to cubs, they will not be reintroduced to the wild themselves. However, their descendants could play a key role in restoring Arctic populations, Mr Richardson said.

The breeding programme has drawn criticism from some animal protection charities.

OneKind Scotland said polar bears, which in the wild can roam natural ranges larger than the whole of Scotland, fare "particularly poorly" in captivity.

Director Harry Huyton, said: "Even with the greatest efforts from zoos, it’s hard to see how polar bears confined to small enclosures will be able to have good lives.

"If the Highland Wildlife Park believes this is about conservation they need to demonstrate how breeding a small number of captive polar bears in Scotland will benefit the wild population.

"Ultimately, the main threat to polar bears is climate change and unless we address that there will be no suitable habitat to release captive bred animals into. If you want to protect polar bears climate change should be your focus, not building a captive population of bears with no place to go."

Chris Draper, spokesman for the Born Free Foundation on captive wild animals, said: "A breeding programme for captive polar bears at Highland Wildlife Park is likely to be, at best, ineffective in terms of securing wild polar bear populations.

"The battle for the Arctic ice and the fragile and complex ecosystem in the region is not going to hang on breeding a handful of polar bear cubs in captivity in Scotland. I am convinced that the public are becoming wise to zoos' spurious claims that they have a genuine and substantial role to play in conservation."