Latest news with #WFFT
Kuwait Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Kuwait Times
Sunbears to elephants: Life at a Thai wildlife hospital
The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquillizer dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. 'If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need.' She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue - coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases - and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquillizer dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. "Yong," a six-year-old pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, in his enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province.--AFP photos "Yong," a six-year-old pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, on an x-ray table ahead of a vasectomy surgery. A monitor with an image of "Yong," getting an X-ray before vasectomy surgery. "Yong," getting a vasectomy surgery at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. A tiger inside its enclosure as Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) founder Edwin Wiek watches at the WFFT hospital. A general view of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Vets giving medicine to a bear inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Vets giving medicine to a pig inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Out-of-hand hobby The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous 'tiny' clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. 'I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility,' he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, 'we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room,' he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. 'That hobby got out of hand,' he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). 'In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care,' said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. 'The animal welfare issue is horrible,' said Wiek. 'But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species.' WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialized blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. 'The laws are there, we lack the enforcement,' he said. 'But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers.' — AFP
Sharjah 24
19 hours ago
- Health
- Sharjah 24
Healing the wild: Life inside Thailand's wildlife care facility
Innovative veterinary solutions Veterinarian Siriporn Tippol highlights the challenges of treating such a wide variety of species. The team often improvises with available tools, such as modifying equipment for cats and dogs to fit larger animals like bears and tigers. Daily tasks include treating wounds, assessing conditions like cataracts, and managing skin ailments in Malayan sunbears. Transformative facilities The newly opened, spacious hospital replaces a much smaller clinic, allowing for more surgeries and better treatment options. Founder Edwin Wiek, who started WFFT in 2001 with just a few animals, emphasizes the need for a proper medical facility to accommodate the over 900 animals in their care. Advocacy against trafficking Wiek has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in Thailand, a country known for wildlife trafficking. The WFFT works closely with the Department of National Parks, coordinating efforts to rehabilitate injured animals. One major campaign targets the use of monkeys in coconut harvesting, which often involves illegal practices that threaten species survival. Future aspirations While the hospital is already making strides, Wiek aims to further enhance its capabilities with additional equipment like a mobile X-ray unit and a forensics lab to trace the origins of trafficked animals. He believes that stronger enforcement of existing laws is crucial in combating illegal wildlife trafficking effectively.
eNCA
20 hours ago
- Health
- eNCA
Sunbears to elephants: Life at a Thai wildlife hospital
BANGKOK - The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquilliser dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. "If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need." She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue -- coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases -- and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquilliser dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. - Out-of-hand hobby - The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous "tiny" clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. "I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility," he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, "we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room," he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. "That hobby got out of hand," he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). "In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care," said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. "The animal welfare issue is horrible," said Wiek. "But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species." WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialised blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. "The laws are there, we lack the enforcement," he said. "But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers."
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital opens, treats victims of animal exploitation
BANGKOK, July 20 — The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquilliser dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. 'If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need.' 'Yong,' a six-year-old pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, is seen in his enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue — coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases — and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquilliser dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. A tiger roams inside its enclosure as Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) founder Edwin Wiek watches at the WFFT hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) founder Edwin Wiek speaks with AFP at the WFFT hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic Out-of-hand hobby The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous 'tiny' clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. 'I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility,' he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, 'we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room,' he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. 'That hobby got out of hand,' he laughed. A food cart outside enclosures for rescued animals at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). 'In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care,' said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. Vets give medicine to a bear inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. 'The animal welfare issue is horrible,' said Wiek. 'But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species.' WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. Vets give medicine to a pig inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province July 9, 2025. — AFP pic There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialised blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. 'The laws are there, we lack the enforcement,' he said. 'But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers.' — AFP
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
Sunbears To Elephants: Life At A Thai Wildlife Hospital
The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquilliser dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. "If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need." She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue -- coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases -- and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquilliser dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous "tiny" clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. "I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility," he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, "we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room," he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. "That hobby got out of hand," he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). "In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care," said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. "The animal welfare issue is horrible," said Wiek. "But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species." WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialised blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. "The laws are there, we lack the enforcement," he said. "But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers." Vet assistants carrying "Yong", a pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts AFP Thailand is a well-known wildlife trafficking hub AFP Over 900 animals are in WFFT's care with a regular stream of emergency arrivals AFP
