Highways crews treat polar bears to their favourite toys

To celebrate International Polar Bear Day (27 February), Staffordshire County Council’s Leek Highways Depot team donated a truckload of damaged traffic cones to Peak Wildlife Park, where they have been repurposed as toys for two polar bear cubs, Nanook and Noori. 

The pair wasted no time getting stuck in – tossing the cones into the air, gnawing on them, and devouring all the tasty treats concealed inside.

The bears enjoying their new enrichment toys was a rewarding sight for both crews and park staff.  

Reece Greenhow, Deputy Head Keeper at Peak Wildlife Park, said:

“They’re having a great time with the cones that have been donated by Staffordshire County Council. They make a great enrichment device for the polar bears as they can have lots of different things like food stuffed in them. It’s also great to keep the bears nice and busy and active. 

“With us being quite high above sea level here, it does mean it does get very cold up here which is a great temperature for the boys at certain times of the year so do feel free to come and see them playing.” 

The bears were relocated to Peak Wildlife Park near Leek in 2023 after their previous home, Orsa Predator Park in Sweden, closed down. Their new five-acre habitat provides them with the space and care they need to thrive. 

Keith Flunder, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways North, said:

“Rather than simply throwing away these damaged traffic cones, we saw an opportunity to give them a new lease of life as toys for the polar bears. Seeing how much they enjoy the cones is fantastic – it’s a win-win for everyone. 

“Our highways teams work incredibly hard, not just to fix and maintain Staffordshire’s roads but also to support their local communities. This donation is a great example of how we can repurpose materials in a meaningful way while giving back to a fantastic local wildlife park.” 

Staffordshire County Council has announced up to an extra £15 million boost for highways in the county, on top of the additional £45 million investment over three years.  

This money will pay for more crews to carry out repairs to potholes and drainage issues, a full preventative maintenance programme to help stop defects forming in the first place and targeted enforcement on landowners with drainage issues affecting the highway.

To keep up to date with highways news in Leek and surrounding areas, sign up to the Fixing More Roads in Staffordshire Moorlands newsletter on the county council’s website.