Release plan UPDATE:-

Tony, Jita and their baby Claire are the next gibbon family to be released to the wild by the project. Their release is planned for the end of this year, however much work is already being done in preparation for this exciting event. For example, the release area was surveyed; Volunteers, along side of Thai staff, made detailed recordings of the rainforest in order to find the optimal area for release of the gibbons. Proximity to other gibbon families that have already established their territories in the forest as well as density of feeding sources were kept in mind. A trail system measuring 2,530 meters was recently put in place to facilitate access to the area. A training cage is under maintenance so that it is in its optimal state for the release. It is 6 meters tall, 4 wide, and 4 long, and surrounds trees and veins, as would naturally be found in the gibbons’ release environment. It includes a 1.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m feeding cage. Additionally, enrichment is being designed specifically for this cage. Since the release of the gibbons will require Thai staff as well as volunteers to be in the forest during the daytime as well as the nighttime, a camp is being prepared: The site is being cleared to make room for an eating and overnight sleeping area. This is a lot of work for one release, but it is well worth it! All of this hard work is being done by Thai staff and current volunteers of the GRP project.

Volunteers needed!

Currently we are seeking help from volunteers. Volunteers are most needed from May to December 2009 because we are planning the release of a new family to the forest. If you are interested in joining and participating in such a special opportunity, then you are most welcome.

Tony, Jita and Claire moving to Training cage on June, 7th 2009

Release plan: May to December 2009
For months May and June 2009, a team will survey the forest to find a suitable area for the release, as well as move the selected family to the training cage.
 For months June and August 2009, we will map the area, set up camp, set up the cage, etc.
The release should be around October 2009, however this depends on present circumstances and the number of people working at the project.
  From October to December a follow up study after the release is very necessary.
Also aside from all this work, the daily running of the project is essential to the survival of the project.

More information contact May Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@warthai.org

Set up acclimatization cage	Moving gibbons to the training cage	Mapping the release area

New Arrivals:

Phi Phi, a 5 months old female gibbon was brought in on 28 April 2009

Special thanks:

Thank you to Orange Company Zurich, Switzerland and Claudia Sigcrist for donating Digital Cameras. Your thoughtful gifts will come in handy almost daily.

PLEASE DO NOT HAVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN WITH GIBBONS!

There are numerous gibbons being used as tourist attractions on Phuket. By paying to have your photo taken with a gibbon you are helping these people to reduce the numbers of wild gibbons and cause suffering to this beautiful animal.Gibbons ensure the health and vitality of the rainforests in which they live. Therefore, their survival must be ensured far into the future. Gibbons are threatened by loss of habitat, but also increasingly, by hunting and the illegal pet market. Remember, each cute baby gibbon you see at a market or beach had its mother shot dead by poachers. This loss destroys the family group forever.

This is where you can help. Don’t have your photograph taken with a gibbon or use the bars they are kept in and don’t buy baby gibbons anywhere. Report any poaching activity seen or heard to the National Park Headquarters or the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division (forest@royalthaipolice.go.th). You can report it directly to DNP through their website http://www.dnp.go.th/complain/index.asp If we work together we can try and stop this trade.

Beware they BITE!!

When gibbons reach sexual maturity at six or seven years old, they develop large canines and become aggressive. At this stage they may be dumped or killed. Some owners will give the gibbons to organisations like us or to The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department when they reach sexual maturity. They will then acquire a new baby gibbon which will be easier to handle and more attractive to tourists. If they do decide to keep the gibbons, they may file down or remove their canines and then place the gibbon in a tiny cage or chain it up.

Message from our HEARTS

We are fighting the sorrow and the obstacles,
We try to make our dream come true everyday,
With our strength and energy, our hopes and our dreams we wish to hear the gibbon’s song again
We are trying to release gibbons back to their natural habitat,
We hope to rebuild the gibbon’s population in Khao Pra Thaew,
It’s our dream for the animals to be able to live and sing free in this forest,
The forest which will be home to all animals.

Finally, the song of the gibbon is echoing around this forest again,
We hope all of you will help us keep the song going,
With your support and belief, we can make our dream come true,
Our dream to fill Khao Pra Thaew with gibbons,
The home for all animals.
Khao Pra Thaew, the last remaining forest of Phuket, A home for all animals.

We are in need of VOLUNTEERS. We rely entirely on volunteers and private donations to achieve our goals and further our cause. We welcome financial assistance, volunteers to help with our work and experts who can advise us. 100% of all donations go directly to the animals in our care. Interesting to join our team, contact May Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@warthai.org