Copenhagen: Six Asiatic black bears have been relocated from South Korea to Knuthenborg Zoo in Denmark as part of an international rescue operation. These bears, previously held at a wild animal breeding farm in South Korea for bile extraction, are now beginning new lives in the wild. According to Thai News Agency, the rescue operation was led by an animal welfare organization and marks the first time bile-extracting bears have been relocated to Europe. Christopher Knuth, the owner of Knuthenborg Zoo, shared that the bears were once confined in narrow cages for bile extraction, which is used in traditional medicine. The zoo, located about 150 kilometers south of Copenhagen, now serves as their new home. The operation took over two years of planning and involved NGOs, veterinarians, wildlife experts, and government agencies from both South Korea and Europe. This initiative aligns with South Korea's gradual phasing out of bear farming for bile extraction. In mid-June, the bears were sedated and transported in large wooden cages from South Korea to Denmark by road and plane. Upon arrival, officials carefully released the bears into holding cages before introducing them to the larger park area to help them adapt to their new environment. A male bear named "Komgu" and a female bear named "Komryo" were the first to explore their new home, a 23,000 square meter bear forest. Komgu quickly took to exploring the woods and foraging, while Komryo headed to the pond for a swim. The zoo still houses over 100 former farm bears at its rescue center in South Korea, awaiting relocation to permanent homes.
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