Protecting Thailand's Wildlife
Here is a snapshot…
In Thailand, like many countries throughout the world, animals are abused & exploited for profit & human gratification. Thai wildlife is at constant risk from threats including destruction of habitats, the unethical wildlife tourism industry & the illegal wildlife trade. Since 2001 WFFT has campaigned and fought against these practices to help protect & preserve Thailand’s wildlife. With an on-site wildlife hospital, the sanctuary rescues & rehabilitates captive or injured animals, & offers a forever home to those who cannot safely be returned to the wild. The sanctuary is now home to over 60 species of animals, including elephants, tigers, & over 300 primates. WFFT is a NGO & as such receives no government funding, so it’s work is only possible due to supporters & donations. The foundation also campaigns to tackle the exploitation & abuse of Thailand’s wildlife, & educates tourists & local communities on the urgent issues facing these animals today.
Their mission is to protect, rescue, rehabilitate, release & care for wildlife that has been exploited or otherwise come into contact with humans. Today the WFFT sanctuary in Phetchaburi is home to four main areas: Wildlife Rescue Centre – a sanctuary home to over 800 rescue animals including primates, reptiles, birds & many more species. Wildlife Hospital – where their world-class medical team treat the wildlife patients. Elephant Refuge – acres of forested land specifically for their elephants, along with a dedicated Elephant Hospital & the I-Love-Phants eco lodge where visitors can stay. Tiger Rescue Centre – a dedicated habitat for the rescue & rehabilitation of ex-captive tigers & other wild cats. They also run the People & Animals Thailand (PAT) for street dogs & cats, which is located in Cha-am.
The main issues facing Thailand’s wildlife are; Habitat loss. Prior to the commercial logging ban in 1989, Thailand had already lost 70% of it’s natural forest. This loss together with the impacts of climate change & other climates crises are pushing many of Thailand’s wildlife to the edge of extinction.
Human Consumption & Use. Wild animals are still the primary food source for millions of humans. Animal’s bodies & body parts are also used in the traditional medicine markets in the Far East. Bear gallbladders, pangolin scales, rhino horn & tiger body parts are just some of the wildlife products sold as part of this industry.
Wild Animal Tourism. Wildlife parks, zoos & marine mammal parks are very common throughout Thailand, & the majority of these have very low animal welfare standards & are often involved with the illegal wildlife trade. At these venues, wild & exotic animals are kept in unnatural conditions, & many are forced to perform tricks or take pictures with tourists. Elephant riding campa, performing monkey shows & tiger petting zoos, are just some of the inhumane activities which exploit animals & harm Thai wildlife. Educating tourists is key in tackling the demand for unethical wildlife tourism.
Pet Trade. The trade of wild animals is sadly big business in Thailand. The demand for wild animals as pets in increasing as the middle & upper classes in Thai society grow. Slow loris & baby otters are very popular pets & are openly sold on social media. The population of several species are threatened by the pet trade, particularly primates, bears, tigers, leopards & otters. When these animals are poached from the wild, their mother is almost always killed, & in some instances the whole family except the babies.
So please do not support animal cruelty: Do not have photos taken with wild animals. Do not go to animal shows, animal “performances”, or petting zoos. Do not ride elephants, with or without a saddle. Do not buy animal souvenirs, including snake or tiger wine, bush meat, ivory or any other animal products. Do you research (or take advice from a travel professional) – only visit legitimate sanctuaries where animals are free to roam & have a hands off policy. Or go to see them in the wild.
More about the Rescue Centre. Since opening in 2001 the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre has rescued & given shelter to thousands of animals. Many are rehabilitated & released back into the wild, while those that cannot be released are provided with a safe sanctuary environment for the rest of their lives. With more than 200 acres of sanctuary land, they currently provide lifelong care for numerous threatened species including gibbons, macaques, lorises, langurs, bears, elephants & tigers & more! Many of the animals have been rescued from captivity, where they have experienced poor & unnatural living conditions. There are also many animals who have been rescued directly from the wild, where they have victims of dog attacks, road traffic accidents, or other human-caused accidents. The overall objective will always be to rehabilitate & release these animals back into the wild. Unfortunately for the majority of the animals they rescue, this is often difficult & in some cases not possible. For those that do need a forever home they will receive round the clock care from the expert team of vets, animal care staff & of course dedicated volunteers.
The WFFT Wildlife Hospital is the first NGO wildlife hospital in Thailand. Opened in 2005 it treats thousands of wild & domestic animals every year. The team undertake rescue operations for neglected & abused wildlife from all over Thailand, & offer emergency medical treatment, rehabilitation & long-term care. They also provide healthcare to local domestic animals as part of their commitment to the local community, providing heavily-subsidised treatment, vaccinations & neutering.
Please follow this amazing animal sanctuary on social media for updates Facebook @WildlifeFriendsFoundation Instagram @wildlife_friends_foundation YouTube @WildlifeFriends TikTok @wildlife_friends_wfft Website www.wfft.org Donate www.wfft.org/donate
