Five moon bears that endured decades of captivity in South Korea have arrived at their permanent residence at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park near Ipswich, Suffolk. The animals were transported 5,500 miles (8,850km) by the park and its associated charity, Space for the Wild, to begin a new chapter in life.
The bears, who landed on Thursday, were previously held at one of South Korea’s remaining bear bile farms. These facilities, which extracted bile for use in traditional medicines while keeping the animals in poor conditions, are now illegal under bans enacted last year regarding the breeding, possession, and gallbladder extraction from these bears.
Jimmy Doherty, the founder of the wildlife park, expressed his gratitude for the widespread support that made the rescue possible but reflected sombrely on the bears’ past. “It was truly hell on earth. You cannot unsee these things,” he said. “I will never forget meeting the bears for the first time.”
He added that the ordeal only strengthened the team’s resolve: “It made us all the more determined and focused on our mission – to get these bears safe, protected and living a profoundly better life. The work, dedication and public support of so many have made this a reality. I couldn’t be more grateful to all involved.”
The rescued bears—named Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yonggi, and Huimang—are now settled into a dedicated reserve within the park. The habitat has been specifically designed to allow them to climb, swim, and rest among trees and grass, offering a stark contrast to their previous cage-bound existence.
To facilitate the operation, the park launched a fundraising campaign, having already collected more than £90,000 toward a £200,000 target. The bears are expected to live out the rest of their days in safety at the Suffolk facility.
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