Buzz
by Aliya Whiteley
Benbecula, a Scottish island spanning just over 30 square miles, is a picturesque blend of hills, woodlands, and shores, making it an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of contemporary living.
This was precisely the sentiment of Hercules, a grizzly bear, during the summer of 1980.
Raised in Perthshire, Scotland, by wrestler Andy Robin and his wife Maggie, Hercules was trained by Andy to participate in wrestling matches. The bear gained fame on ITV's World Of Sport, but his global stardom skyrocketed after he vanished during a swim while filming a Kleenex TV ad on Benbecula in 1980.
For 24 days, Hercules remained hidden, sparking fear among locals who worried the hungry grizzly might invade their homes or prey on their animals. However, Hercules caused no harm during his time on the island (having grown accustomed to cooked meat, he no longer consumed it raw). After being discovered unharmed and reunited with the Robins, he became an international sensation.
Hercules met Margaret Thatcher and reportedly won the admiration of Ronald Reagan. He was named Personality of the Year by the Scottish Tourist Board and graced the cover of TIME magazine. He even caddied for Bob Hope at Gleneagles. Fans can spot him in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983), where he shares the screen with Roger Moore.
Hercules' daring escape inspired author Bella Pollen, who was residing on the island at the time. Alongside her siblings, she spent that summer hunting for the bear, an experience that later inspired her fictional work, The Summer of the Bear.
Hercules wrestled alongside Robin until 1997, when a slipped disc forced him into retirement. He passed away three years later.
By Ivanbalich - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hercules was cherished as a member of the family by his owners and spent his life in harmony with them. In 2013, a statue honoring Hercules was unveiled on North Uist, and in 2015, his remains were relocated to rest there. Though his time roaming freely on a Scottish island was brief, he now resides there forever.
