4 Endangered Bears in Hokkaido Start New Life in Britain

August 7, 2018

London- Four endangered bears in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, have started a new life in Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England after being flown 8,600 kilometers to London, British media reports said Monday.

The aged bears--Riku, Kai, Hanako and Amu--will live the rest of their lives at the park under care and protection by experts after being kept in captivity for many years, according to the Daily Mail and other media outlets.

The four, aged between 17 and 27, were kept as tourist attractions at the Ainu Museum in the Hokkaido town of Shiraoi, which shut permanently in March.

An animal welfare group found them living in the poor conditions and started negotiations to move them to Britain.

In an 18-month "rescue mission," the bears were brought to London on Friday and to the park by Monday, the Daily Mail said.

The four bears will be released to a spacious outdoor protection zone in a few days, it said.

"We are fortunate we have the space, animal management skills and experience to rehome these bears that will require specialist care and it is great to welcome them to Yorkshire," John Minion, head of the park, was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Jiji Press