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.