A fundraising campaign to rescue captive moon bears from South Korea has surpassed £35,000, as efforts continue to bring the animals to a new sanctuary in Suffolk.
The “Bears Behind Bars” appeal, led by conservation group Space for the Wild and supported by Jimmy Doherty of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, had raised more than £35,026 from more than 1,500 donations at the time of writing.
Organisers say the growing total reflects increasing public awareness of the bears’ plight, but warn that significantly more funding is still required to complete the mission.
The campaign was launched after Mr Doherty visited a bear bile farm in South Korea, where animals have historically been kept in cramped cages and exploited for use in traditional medicine.
Although the practice has now been banned nationwide, hundreds of bears remain in captivity, with limited options for relocation.
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Campaigners estimate that around 200 bears are still awaiting rescue. Without intervention, there are concerns some could face euthanasia or be transferred to other facilities abroad, potentially prolonging their suffering.
Funds raised through the appeal will support plans to transport a number of the bears to Jimmy’s Farm, near Ipswich, where a purpose-built sanctuary is proposed.
The site aims to provide the animals with significantly improved living conditions, including space to roam and opportunities to recover from years of confinement.
However, the urgency of the project has been underlined by the recent death of one bear, which had spent 27 years in a cage.
Despite this setback, Jimmy’s Farm remains committed to rescuing five other bears.
The project builds on the farm’s previous conservation work, including the successful rescue of brown bear Diego, which supporters say demonstrates its capability to care for large mammals.
Organisers say the latest fundraising milestone is encouraging, but stress that continued public support will be vital to secure a long-term future for the remaining bears.
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