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Bears Escape Korean Bile Farms for UK Sanctuary
16 Sep
Summary
- Five moon bears rescued from Korean bile farms have arrived in Suffolk.
- The bears now live at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in a new reserve.
- A campaign raised over £90,000 towards the £200,000 rescue target.
Five moon bears have found sanctuary in Suffolk, England, after a remarkable journey from South Korea. These bears had spent decades in cages on one of the nation's last bear bile farms, facilities recently banned in South Korea. The animals arrived at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park near Ipswich on Thursday, marking the culmination of a significant international rescue effort.
The newly established reserve at the park is designed to offer the bears a vastly improved quality of life. It provides ample space for them to climb, swim, and rest amidst natural surroundings. This relocation offers a profound change from their previous conditions, which were described as "hell on earth" by Jimmy Doherty, founder of the wildlife park.
The rescue operation was supported by a public fundraising campaign aiming to raise £200,000. As of the article's reporting, over £90,000 has been raised, contributing to the successful transport of the bears. South Korea's recent ban on breeding and bile extraction from these bears signifies a turning point for animal welfare in the country.