Hercules

Until  I saw a mention on Twitter (and sorry, but I am still using it from time to time, though BlueSky is now my social media app of choice) I hadn't realised that today was the anniversary of Hercules the Bear being found alive in North Uist, some 24 days after he went messing off the island of Wiay  , which to the south east of Benbecula

Cathleen and I were living in Kilerevagh Schoolhouse (picture in the top left, in a shot I took when I Uist last month - it was more rudimentary in our day) when that happened and Wiay was quite close.   We spent the first few mights after the escape nervously listening to every sound outside, in case the bear had headed our way.

I recall that Andy Robins (the wrestler who owned the bear) had advised that you should feed it prawns and advocaat  , but they weren't items we kept close to hand at any time, so we though it safer just to be cautious.   

Hercules  however had headed north, and was found swimming in a sea loch - though there clearly hadn't been enough to forage, as it had lost a third of its impressive 60 stone bodyweight.   

I clearly  recall  the rather sad sight of the haggard bear being helicoptered across the island , or rather swinging in a net below the helicopter.    Even though it was a different time, I think for most of us the   whole thing was an illustration of the wrong way to treat animals, though I have no doubt that Andy Robbins and his wife always showed great affection and care for Hercules.