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 The
Location
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, located off
the country’s southwest coast. Nicknamed “Pearl
of the South,” Phuket is home to exotic coral reefs,
breathtaking coves and gleaming, palm-fringed beaches.
Limestone karsts that ascend thousands of feet from the
tropical sea create a magnificent backdrop and countless
adventures for rock climbers and cavers. The Andaman region
in northern Phuket features one of the world’s most
diverse shoreline rainforests. But this mystical forest
is threatened by human sprawl and development.
The Situation
The gibbon population began dwindling on Phuket Island
in the 1980s. Hunters would kill the adult females so
they could capture their babies and sell them as pets
and tourist attractions for about $200. Gibbons that were
smuggled out of Thailand were worth more than $9,000.
In 1992, it became illegal to remove a gibbon from the
wild, but the practice has continued. Today, all nine
species of gibbons in Southeast Asia are listed as endangered.
 What’s
Being Done
The gibbon sanctuary on Phuket Island was established
in the early 1990s. After 15 years of research and rehabilitation,
two families of gibbons have been successfully released
into the Khao Phra Theaw non-hunting area. The sanctuary
can support at least 60 groups of Gibbons, so this rehabilitation
project can continue for many years.
What You Can Do
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project includes several different
sites where volunteers can work. At the quarantine and
rehabilitation sites, volunteers will conduct daily health
checks, prepare food and feed the gibbons twice a day
by raising baskets to their cages. You will also help
with cage maintenance and enrichment activities, which
include building rope swings to keep them active. At the
reintroduction site, volunteers will observe and record
the gibbons’ behavior in the wild.
At the information desk, volunteers will educate the public
about the problems gibbons face and how to discourage
their use in captivity. Volunteers may be asked to help
with other aspects of this project, such as teaching English
at local schools, and writing letters and proposals.
Airport and Orientation:
A staff member will pick you up at Phuket International
Airport and take you to the project site.
The day after you arrive, you will take a tour of the different
sites, meet the staff and receive a daylong orientation.
The following day you will begin a two-week training at
the site where you will be working. Here, the staff will
provide you with detailed information about the project,
including rules, safety precautions and your specific
responsibilities as a volunteer.
 Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will arrange for the following:
 Airport
pickup and drop-off to Phuket International Airport
Transportation
from the bungalows to the various project sites
Weekly
shopping trips
Accommodations:
Volunteers will stay in basic, hut-style bungalows. There
are three rooms in each bungalow, and two to three volunteers in each
room. The rooms are same-sex unless volunteers are a couple.
There is a full-service kitchen and a social house where
volunteers can spend free time. The bungalows have shared
bathrooms and running water, but there is no hot
water. This is not typically a problem since
Thailand has a tropical climate and is warm year round.
In-country support:
We work directly with our partner organization
to provide support during your time in Thailand. You can
expect help from project coordinators, field guides, fellow
volunteers and the staff of both Volunteer Adventures
and our partner organization. We also provide a 24-hour
cell phone number for emergencies.
 Additional Activities and Excursions:
There are hiking trails and two waterfalls located
in the Khao Pra Taew Wildlife center where the project
is located. The forest vegetation resembles a Tarzan movie
set, with its giant trees and thick foliage. The jungle
is home to langurs, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar,
monkeys, and many exotic birds. There are also several
historic Buddhist temples around Thalang, including the
Pra Nahng Sahng and the Pra Tong temples. Nai Yang Beach,
known for its large coral reef and long, meandering bay,
is a 15- to 20-minute drive. The Thalang National Museum,
dedicated to the Heriones of Thalang, is also a short
distance from the project.
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Volunteer
Adventures - 915 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80246
Phone: 1-888-825-3454 or 303-777-7783 Fax: 303-777-7246 UK Toll
Free: 0800-028-8051 |
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