Five Rescued Moon Bears Cleared for 5,500-Mile Transfer to Suffolk

Five moon bears rescued from South Korea's banned bile farms are set for a 5,500-mile transfer to Suffolk's Jimmy's Farm, where a new reserve is being prepared.

Moon Bears Cleared for Transfer to Suffolk

Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park is preparing to rescue five moon bears from South Korea, where they have spent decades confined in cages. The bears have been medically cleared for a 5,500-mile (8,850km) journey to their new permanent home in Suffolk.

The Ipswich-based wildlife park, along with its charity Space for the Wild, is leading the Bears Behind Bars campaign to facilitate the relocation of these animals. The bears were previously held at one of South Korea's last bear bile farms, a practice now banned in the country.

Jimmy Doherty, founder of Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, expressed his anticipation for the bears' arrival.

"The bears will soon be able to finally feel real grass beneath their feet," he said.

Reflecting on his first encounter with the bears, Doherty shared his emotional response.

"I'll never forget meeting these bears for the first time. After decades trapped in tiny cages, it was heartbreaking to see what they'd endured. But even then, you could see a spark in them that was worth fighting for."

A man stands in a field on a cloudy day. He has his arms folded in front of him. He has brown hair that is swept to the right hand side and he is wearing a faded black denim shirt. He has a brown beard. — Image caption, Jimmy Doherty said it was "heartbreaking to see" what the bears had been through

Background on Bear Bile Farming in South Korea

At the end of 2023, South Korea announced a ban on the breeding and possession of bears for bile extraction. Bear bile has traditionally been used in medicinal products, but the bears were often kept in poor conditions, confined to small cages throughout their lives.

Although the practice is being phased out, approximately 200 bears are believed to remain in captivity at former bile farms.

Among the five bears destined for Suffolk, one has reportedly been held at a bile farm since 1998, according to the wildlife park.

A small black moon bear lying down in a small enclosure. There are remnants of fruit skins on the ground around it. — Image caption, The wildlife park is sharing the bears' stories on social media over the next week

Preparation for the Bears' Arrival

Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park has begun developing a dedicated reserve to accommodate the moon bears upon their arrival.

Stevie Sheppard, the park's director, discussed the ongoing preparations and funding efforts.

"No moon bears have ever come to the UK from South Korea. This is a brand new corridor we're opening for them to find a new home," he explained. "We're not too sure on the full timeframe. We need to raise the money. Once we've got the money we can get the bears here."

A man standing in front of a fence with an animal enclosure beyond it. He is wearing a blue shirt and a baseball cap, with a — Image caption, Wildlife park director Stevie Sheppard

The planned reserve will feature islands designed specifically for the moon bears, providing a naturalistic environment.

A drone image of a reserve at a wildlife park. There are islands surrounded by a stream of water. There are large trees on the islands. — Image caption, The reserve will have islands for the moon bears

The campaign has currently raised over £50,000 but aims to reach £200,000 to cover the costs associated with the project.

Costs and Logistics of the Transfer

Sarah Dawson, chief operating officer for Space for the Wild, outlined the financial and logistical challenges involved in transporting the bears.

"It's a long way here from South Korea and they've had a very difficult life. We want to make sure they're as comfortable as possible on the flight here," she said. "Plus the crates, plus people to look after them on the flights, veterinary care, even the forklift trucks to lift the crates up on to the plane are expensive, so it all adds up."

The organization continues to seek support and donations to ensure the successful relocation of the bears.