LONDON, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Four Ussuri brown bears from Japan were relocated on Monday to a wildlife park in Doncaster of northern England, after traveling over 8,700 kilometers.
They had been kept in outdated cages in a cultural museum in Japan's northernmost prefecture Hokkaido.
"The museum does not have the experience or resources to look after the bears now, and wished to find them a new home," John Minion, CEO of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said.
"We are fortunate we have the space, animal management skills and experience to rehome these bears that will require specialist care," Minion said in a statement.
The four black grizzlies, Amu and Hanako, both 27, and 17-year-old Riku and Kai, were bred in captivity in cramped and outdated cages in Japan.
Park veterinarian Alan Tevendale said they displayed distressed behavior, including pacing and vomiting, because of the bad living conditions.
The park hopes the rescue would raise awareness of bear welfare and conservation around the world.
The Ussuri brown bear is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
