Five Rescued Moon Bears Find Sanctuary in the UK

After decades spent in cages on a South Korean bile farm, five moon bears have arrived at their new home at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk, UK. Named Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yonggi, and Huimang, the bears completed a 5,500 miles (8,850 km) journey on September 16, 2026. This rescue marks a milestone in the effort to end bear bile farming, a practice now banned in South Korea, and offers the animals a far better life in a dedicated sanctuary.

Moon bears, or Asiatic black bears, have long been kept in cramped conditions for the extraction of bile, a substance used in traditional medicine. The process is painful and causes great suffering, but a recent ban on the industry in South Korea has finally allowed for the rescue and rehabilitation of those remaining. Jimmy Doherty, the founder of the park, said he is determined to provide the five bears with a higher standard of care, noting that public support was essential to making the move possible.

The journey to the UK was managed by the charity Space for the Wild in collaboration with Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park. Once they arrived, the bears were released into a reserve built specifically for them, featuring climbing structures, pools, and open spaces with trees and grass. These surroundings are designed to encourage the natural behaviors the bears were unable to express during their years in captivity.

Reflecting on the conditions the bears left behind, Jimmy Doherty described the bile farm as "truly hell on earth." Meeting them for the first time solidified the sanctuary's commitment to their long-term health and safety. To help fund their ongoing care, the park has launched a fundraising appeal, which has already seen over £90,000 raised toward a target of £200,000.

As Bara, Rumi, Saebit, Yonggi, and Huimang settle into their new surroundings, their arrival highlights the broader issues facing captive bears and the role of conservation. Providing a safe haven for these five animals is part of a wider movement against wildlife exploitation. Their transition from small cages to a spacious sanctuary shows the tangible impact of rescue efforts for animals previously subjected to such conditions.