‘Bruin’ the Polar Bear

A bright day

My wife was catching the Bus in Dundee to Edinburgh Airport so we went early to have a walk around the City Centre. We came across this rather terrifying Sculpture, which had appeared recently. Once I got home I found out more about it.

Erected in 2021, this sculpture by artist David Annand and commissioned by the Dundee City Council commemorates an event that took place in the nearby vicinity in November 1878. As the story goes, a rather large polar bear escaped his handlers and caused havoc for several hours before being gently apprehended.

This particular arctic animal was named “Bruin,” an English folk term for brown bear. He was one of two that were in an exhibition taking place nearby.

At the time, a local newspaper reported that the bear wandered the streets causing great excitement and chaos. It followed a woman into a local clothing retailer, where it became enamored by its own reflection in a mirror. Here, the bear was subdued by a rope and was led away.

We were pleased it wasn’t wandering around today.