A new documentary has uncovered the unusual tale of a couple who raised a grizzly bear as if it were their own child, transforming it into an international sensation.
In the 1970s, Andy Robin, a professional wrestler from Scotland, and his wife Maggie bought a nine-month-old bear from a wildlife park for just £50 (around $66).
Living on a ranch in the Scottish hills, the couple, who were without children, nurtured the bear named Hercules as their son. They provided him with a ‘human diet,’ which included coffee and even the occasional alcoholic drink. They also trained him to wrestle and took him on worldwide trips, gaining fame for their unique family setup.
A BBC documentary titled Hercules the Bear: A Love Story delves into this extraordinary bond, showcasing home videos and interviews that have never been seen before.
Maggie, now 74, shares memories of their time with Hercules, who lived until February 2000, passing away at the age of 26.
“It was a love story. Between the three of us, it was a definite love story,” Maggie mentions. “Nobody’s ever lived like that with a bear before and never will probably.”
The documentary reveals how Hercules, who stood 8ft tall and weighed nearly 65 stone (910lbs), would hug Maggie and enjoyed a hefty breakfast of eggs, sausages, beans, bread, followed by coffee, each morning.
Hercules was part of their daily training regime, running or swimming with Andy in preparation for wrestling events. He even joined them at the local pub, enjoying a shandy.
Maggie admitted the bear got ‘tipsy’ on occasions from drinking Babycham, which humorously turned him into a ‘big, stumbly, fur coat’.
“He was a very spoiled bear,” Maggie added, describing how she cooked all day to satisfy his enormous appetite.
Meanwhile, Andy fondly referred to the bear as his ‘son’ and ‘boy’, also noting his ‘fussy eater’ tendencies.
Andy’s interest in bears began after a 1965 challenge to wrestle a black bear named Terrible Ted. This encounter inspired him to train and tame his own bear.
The couple attributed their close relationship with Hercules to mutual trust. “Hercules gave us his trust,” Maggie said. “That’s what really happened. And we gave him ours.”
The documentary also recounts how Maggie met Andy, who was 16 years older than her, at age 21. Attracted by his wrestling prowess, she fell in love with him, and their relationship became widely talked about, especially after they brought home a bear cub in August 1975.
As Hercules grew, so did his fame, first becoming a local celebrity in Scotland by wrestling with Andy and appearing on TV.
Hercules gained international fame in 1980 when he escaped during a Kleenex ad shoot and roamed the Outer Hebrides. A large-scale search involving police, soldiers, and helicopters ensued. After three weeks, he was found, having lost 15 stone, underscoring his gentle nature, as he had not eaten any raw meat.
The capture and rescue operation was a global news event.
Hercules became a sought-after star with appearances on US talk shows, children’s programs, book tours, a Disney documentary, and numerous photoshoots. He even received accolades like the Scottish Tourist Board’s Personality of the Year in 1980, met UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, received a telegram from US President Ronald Reagan, and appeared in the 1993 James Bond film, Octopussy.
Tragically, Hercules later suffered a back injury and sepsis, leading to his death.
Maggie reminisces that Andy never fully overcame the loss, and after Andy passed away in December 2019, she made sure he was laid to rest beside Hercules.
Hercules the Bear: A Love Story will be available to watch and stream on BBC Two starting at 6pm on December 30.