THE GIBBON REHABILITATION PROJECT
Bang Pae Waterfall, Phuket Island, Thailand
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project was founded in 1992, by an American Zoologist Terrence Dillon Morin
While Terrence Dillon Morin ( T D ) was living on Phuket Island. He become increasingly concerned about the plight of gibbons in general and the exploitation of gibbons kept in tourist bars in particular.
From an initial two gibbons rescued by TD, the centre has grown into a full scale reintroduction and research project whose aim is to release bonded pairs of Lar Gibbons (Hylobates Lar) onto to a managed island reserve in Phang Nga Bay, a short distance off the eastern coast of Phuket.
Aside from this pioneering work the project also hopes to highlight the plight of gibbons to the visitors of the centre and to help them understand this remarkable primate and it's importance to Thailand's rich environment.
The project's work in fighting for the protection of the gibbon, one of our closest living relatives, we hope may help to ensure it's continued existence and the existence of it's habitat.
This battle is entirely dependent upon your support and your understanding of the importance of all Thailand's wildlife and forests.
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and it's work at Bang Pae Waterfall and the island release sites is funded by donation alone and can only continue it's work by public support, if you are able please make a donation and help the project continue it's work into the future.
BANG PAE WATERFALL REHABILITATION CENTRE
The role of the centre here at the waterfall is to act as a phase one in the process of a full reintroduction. The gibbons here are in the slow process of readjusting to a more natural lifestyle. This involves the pairing of individuals, most of who have not seen another gibbon since their capture as infants. The learning of gibbon social skills will be essential to a gibbon's future survival and despite the fact that for many this is a slow and tortuous process, they must complete this stage in order to move on.
Another problem for many of the canter's gibbons is that their diet during the period of capture prior to coming to the project has been inappropriate and poor.
Again, if they are to be prepared for a more natural and useful life they must readapt and habituate themselves to food they will encounter in the wild. All newly arrived gibbons undergo a period of quarantine, where important health checks are made and the project staff can evaluate the best management for the individual.
For some gibbons, sadly the effect of their past captivity will be too much, and there is little likelihood of their reintroduction. None the less for the majority, and with the project's support, the process is well under way. Near the top of the waterfall centre is what is called the "minimum contact area".
This part of the project is off limits to visitors and project staff only visit the cages when it is essential. This the last stage in Phase I, where the gibbons can begin to build up their independence from human beings. One other important responsibility the centre has, is that of bringing of the gibbons plight to the attention of the people of Thailand and the many tourists who visit.
A program is under way whereupon talks will be given to school children and interested groups and all the project personnel are willing to answer any questions that you may have.
THE KO BOI GIBBON RELEASE ISLANDS
This is the Phase II of the gibbon project. Ko Boi is an island of 7Km2 found in the bay of Phang Nga, east of Phuket. The island has been designated a Forest Reserve and Research Area by the Royal Thai Forestry Department. The island has eight main hills, all forested and appears ideal for the project's use. Once a pair of gibbons has undergone the process at Bang Pae Waterfall (Phase I) they will arrive on the islands ready to commence the final phase.
The project is currently reinvestigating the possibility of using radio tracking as a method of accurately determining the location of the gibbons once on the island. We do not see Ko Boi as the end of the reintroduction process and the project has built and is extending accommodation bungalows on the island. This is to survey and protect the island habitat and the gibbons and secondly to install a research base to monitor and study the pioneering work of the last stage of the project.
Other building work is the laying of forest trails to the more inaccessible areas of the island and the construction of viewing platforms to aid the behavioral studies of the released gibbons.
KO TONG ISLAND
This component to the project is a small island off Ko Boi, where there are at present a group of juvenile Lar gibbons from the waterfall centre. Here the gibbons are free living and although their food is largely supplemented with fruit and vegetables brought by the research team who study their behavior, they are ideally prepared for a life of greater independence, and will provide significant information that will benefit the gibbons still at phase I of the project.
Please help our Gibbon Rehabilitation Project,
it's work at Bang Pae Waterfall,
and the island release sites.
This Project is funded by donation alone and can only continue it's work by public support.
If you are able please make a donation and help the project continue it's work into the future contact the project directly at:
Gibbon Project Phuket Thailand
Tel: (66 76) 260492
Fax: 260491
