Espace partenaire
Six former bile bears arrive at Knuthenborg in Denmark following rescue mission
After a journey of several thousand kilometers from South Korea to Denmark – through Luxembourg with Cargolux, six Asiatic black bears have safely arrived at Knuthenborg Safaripark. Their arrival marks the successful completion of a historic international rescue mission and the first time ever that such bears have been relocated to Europe.
The bears originate from South Korea’s former bile farming industry, where they spent years living under unnatural conditions in small cages. In recent months, however, they were transferred from the farms to rescue centers, where they received improved care and preparation for a life free from exploitation.
The historic relocation has been completed successfully. All six bears are now settling into the safari park’s holding facilities, where they will gradually become accustomed to their new surroundings, their caretakers, and life in Denmark. Over the coming weeks, animal care staff will closely monitor each individual bear to ensure they receive the peace, care and patience they need after a lifetime marked by stress and confinement.
Later, they will gradually gain access to the park’s more than 23,000-square-metre area for the bears : “Bjørneskoven”, featuring trees, a water pool and natural vegetation, where they will be able to express their natural behavior.
The culmination of years of work for better bear welfare
Anne Sofie Meilvang, biologist and policy advisor international work at Animal Protection Denmark, Dyrenes Beskyttelse, has previously worked with rehabilitated bile bears and witnessed how they slowly rediscover their natural behavior after a life in captivity. Those experiences now culminate in this large-scale rescue mission, made possible through an international collaboration between Animal Protection Denmark, Knuthenborg Safaripark, Bears in Mind, Korea National Park Service, the Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA), and South Korean authorities.
It is incredibly rewarding to see years of international cooperation now providing six bears with a new home where animal welfare comes first. For me, this is not only about six individual bears, but about making a difference for animals that have spent their entire lives being treated as production units. Now they are being given something they have never had before : space and the opportunity to simply be bears.
Anne Sofie Meilvang, biologist and policy advisor international work at Animal Protection Denmark
The significance of this breakthrough is also recognized by her Dutch colleague, Koen Cuyten from Bears in Mind : It was heartbreaking to see broken bears, row after row, wasting away in filthy cages during a visit to the bear bile farm in South Korea. After more than 50 years, the Korean government takes their responsibility early 2026 and officially put a ban on bear farming. Now, it is key to giving all bears a second chance as quickly as possible. Bears in Mind is working tirelessly on this, together with its international partners.
The six bears arriving at Knuthenborg are the first former bile bears to begin a new life in Europe. Efforts continue to secure permanent homes for the more than 100 bears that are still living in temporary rescue centers in South Korea.
A new chapter at Knuthenborg
For Jane Trolle, Head of Animal Operations at Knuthenborg Safaripark, the bears’ arrival represents the culmination of years of work and the beginning of a new chapter for the animals. We have followed these bears for a long time, visited them in South Korea, and been involved in the preparations leading up to this day. Now they are finally here, and we look forward to providing them with the peace, care and patience they need. We are excited to get to know each individual bear and support them as they begin their new lives, says Jane Trolle.
Flown with care from bear farm to a new future
Before departing South Korea, the bears underwent extensive health checks and preparations to ensure the journey could be carried out as safely and comfortably as possible. They travelled in specially designed transport crates and were flown free of charge by Europe’s leading all-cargo airline Cargolux from South Korea to Luxembourg before continuing by truck to Denmark. The relocation was planned and carried out in close cooperation between international experts, veterinarians, government authorities and transportation specialists.
“Cargolux is strongly committed to animal welfare and conservation, a cause we advocate for both in our daily business and through initiatives such as this one. We are proud of leveraging our expertise in animal transport to support this rescue mission and contribute to giving these bears a brighter future in a safe and peaceful environment. The whole Cargolux team wishes them all the best in their new forever home.”
Richard Forson, President & CEO of Cargolux
