Rescued Moon Bears Reach Suffolk After 5,500-Mile Journey to New Forever Home

Five moon bears that spent decades confined in cages on a South Korean bile farm have arrived at a permanent sanctuary at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk.

Jimmy's Farm, near Ipswich, and its charity Space for the Wild transported the animals roughly 5,500 miles (8,850 km) to a purpose-built reserve at the park. The bears — Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yonggi and Huimang — were rescued from one of South Korea's last bear bile farms, operations that the country has since banned.

New Life in a Purpose-Built Reserve

The new enclosure gives the bears room to climb, swim and rest among trees and grass, encouraging natural behaviours the animals were previously denied. Park founder Jimmy Doherty said the move will give the animals "a profoundly better life."

"I will never forget meeting the bears for the first time. It was truly hell on earth. You cannot unsee these things," Doherty said, adding that the experience strengthened the team's resolve to protect and rehabilitate the animals.

The park launched a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of rescue, transportation and long-term care. So far it has raised more than £90,000 toward a £200,000 target, with public donations and partner support helping make the relocation possible.

Context and Welfare Progress

South Korea introduced a ban last year on breeding and keeping these bears and on extracting bile from their gallbladders — a substance long used in some traditional medicines. Animal welfare groups welcomed the ban as a major step forward, noting that rescued bears often arrive in poor physical and psychological condition and require long-term rehabilitation.

Jimmy's Farm emphasized ongoing care and enrichment for the bears as they settle into their new home, and called for continued public support to fund their recovery and lifetime care.