Five Rescued Moon Bears Cleared to Travel to Suffolk

An update from Jimmy & Stevie

Five Rescued Moon Bears Cleared to Travel to Their Forever Home

After more than 20 years confined to tiny cages on one of South Korea’s last bear bile farms, five rescued Moon Bears have been given the news they have waited a lifetime for.

They have officially been cleared by veterinarians to travel to their forever home at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk.

It marks a huge milestone for the Bears Behind Bars campaign and everyone who has helped make this rescue possible.

A Journey Decades in the Making

Following their rescue from the bear bile farm, the bears have been recovering under the care of specialist veterinary teams in South Korea.

Their health has now improved enough for them to make the journey to the UK, where a purpose-built woodland reserve is waiting to welcome them.

For the first time in their lives, these bears will no longer be known by numbers. They will each have a name and a future filled with space, care and compassion.

Meet the Bears

From Monday 29 June, Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park and Space for the Wild will introduce one bear each day across social media.

Each story will reveal the bear’s remarkable journey, their recovery and the meaning behind their new name.

We hope you’ll follow along as we welcome them into the next chapter of their lives.

Thank you

This milestone belongs to everyone who has supported Bears Behind Bars.

Every donation, fundraiser, partnership and message of encouragement has helped bring these bears one step closer to freedom.

Jimmy Doherty said:

“I’ll never forget meeting these bears for the first time. Seeing them trapped in tiny cages after decades on a bear bile farm was heartbreaking, but you could still see a spark in them worth fighting for. Knowing they’re now cleared to travel is an incredible moment.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported this mission. I can’t wait to see them enjoy the same happy lives as our other rescued bears.“

Stevie Sheppard, Director of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, said:

“Our team has created a woodland reserve designed entirely around these bears and their recovery. Everything is very nearly ready for them, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to their forever home here with us.“

Sarah Dawson, COO of Space for the Wild, said:

“This milestone belongs to everyone who has supported the campaign so far and stood alongside these bears. Every single donation, including the private sponsors and suppliers who have enabled us to significantly reduce our target, has brought us to this point.

Now we’re calling on everyone’s generosity again to help us on this last push to bring them home.“

The Final Step

Although this is an incredible milestone, there is still one final challenge ahead.

The campaign is now focused on raising the remaining funds needed to complete the bears’ woodland home and cover the specialist transport required to bring them safely to the UK.

This includes bespoke travel crates, veterinary support, specialist air transport and the complex international logistics needed to ensure every bear arrives safely.