Five Moon Bears Rescued From South Korean Bile Farm Find New Home in UK

Five moon bears, rescued from one of South Korea's last bile farms, have arrived at their new sanctuary in Suffolk, England. TV farmer Jimmy Doherty was instrumental in liberating the Asiatic black bears, who had spent more than two decades confined in small cages.

The bears, named Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yong-gi, and Huimang, have been relocated to Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park near Ipswich. Doherty, a patron of the wildlife charity Space for the Wild, had promised to help the bears after encountering them on a previous visit to South Korea.

This marks the first time moon bears have been brought to the UK. The animals underwent a recovery period at a specialized veterinary facility after their removal from the farm, and were declared fit for travel. They will now inhabit a purpose-built woodland reserve called Moon Bear Islands, which features trees, grass, running water, and pools, designed to allow natural behaviors such as foraging, climbing, and swimming.

Moon bears, distinguished by pale, crescent-shaped markings on their chests, are Asiatic black bears. The five rescued bears were reportedly taken from their mothers as cubs. Bara, the oldest, spent 27 years in a single cage before his rescue and had never encountered a pool of water. Siblings Yong-gi and Rumi shared a barren 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 bred for their bile and gallbladders used in traditional medicine. The practice has declined due to animal welfare concerns and the availability of synthetic alternatives. Although breeding, possessing bears for farming, and bile extraction are set to be formally banned in South Korea from January 1, 2026, approximately 200 bears remain on farms.

The relocation effort was supported by the Bears Behind Bars campaign, launched by Space for the Wild and Jimmy's Farm, which raised over £90,000 from approximately 3,700 donations to fund the bears' release, veterinary care, transport, and new enclosure. Doherty expressed that there is still much work to be done to help the remaining bears in South Korea.

The bears will initially be kept away from the public to allow them to acclimatize to their new environment, with visitor access planned once they have settled. Doherty stated, 'It's been a long, long journey,' and expressed joy that the promise to bring the bears home has been fulfilled.