Five Moon Bears Rescued from South Korean Bile Farm Arrive in UK
TV farmer Jimmy Doherty facilitates the relocation of bears after decades of confinement.
Five moon bears have been rescued from tiny cages on one of South Korea's last bile farms and transported over 5,500 miles to a new sanctuary in Suffolk, England. TV farmer Jimmy Doherty, patron of the wildlife charity Space for the Wild, facilitated the rescue, fulfilling a promise made six months prior after witnessing the animals' conditions.
The bears—Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yong-gi, and Huimang—had spent more than two decades confined behind rusty metal bars before their liberation. They have now arrived at Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park near Ipswich, where they will live in a purpose-built woodland reserve called Moon Bear Islands.
The new enclosure is designed to allow the bears to forage, climb, and swim, offering a stark contrast to their previous existence on concrete floors. Moon bears, also known as Asiatic black bears, are identified by pale, crescent-shaped markings on their chests.
The rescued bears were reportedly taken from their mothers as cubs. Bara, the oldest, had been in the same cage for 27 years and had never encountered a pool of water before his rescue. Siblings Yong-gi and Rumi shared a single cage for nearly two decades, while Saebit is said to have protected Huimang during their captivity.
Bear farming in South Korea began in the early 1980s, with bears kept for their bile and gallbladders, ingredients used in some traditional medicines. The practice has declined amid concerns over animal cruelty and the availability of synthetic alternatives. In 2014, approximately 1,000 bears were still on South Korean farms. A 2022 agreement between the government, farmers, and welfare organizations aims to end the trade, with breeding, possession for farming, and bile extraction formally banned from January 1, 2026.
The five bears relocated to Suffolk are among the first to be offered international homes. Doherty highlighted that approximately 200 bears remain on farms in South Korea requiring assistance. Space for the Wild and Jimmy's Farm's 'Bears Behind Bars' campaign has raised over £90,000 to fund the rescue, veterinary care, transport, and the construction of the new reserve.
The bears will initially be kept away from public view to allow them to settle and adapt to their new environment, with their health and behavior closely monitored. Visitors will eventually be able to see them once keepers are confident they have adjusted.
