Specialist Assistance Grant – Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand contacted us asking for urgent assistance in the rescue and rehoming of over 70 Gibbons from the Highland Farm Gibbon sanctuary following the sad passing of owner Phaarane Deter. Jim had worked closely over the years with both Pharanee and her husband, fellow American William Deter, and I know that Jim would not have hesitated to assist. Keep reading to find out what Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand had to say:

“After many months, we were given an unofficial green light that a number of the animals could come to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. In July 2023, we urgently started to build gibbon enclosures in anticipation of the rescue. Between July – October, we built more than 30 gibbon enclosures – five of which were generously sponsored by the Jim Cronin Memorial Fund.

After several months of discussions with the authorities, we were finally given the go-ahead and paperwork to rescue and relocate the first 32 primates including 15 gibbons – mostly, the oldest and the sickest who needed veterinary care. Most were more than 20 years old; some were reported to be in their 30s and 40s, and in fact, one gibbon is reported to be more than 50 years old.

The first 16 were rescued in September 2023 and then 16 more in October 2023. Each time our rescue team drove 10 hours each way over three days.

To date we have spent over 3.8 million baht on the construction of gibbon enclosures and the rescue of the 32 primates – not including any veterinary care. The funds donated to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand by the Jim Cronin Memorial Fund have really helped towards the costs of the new gibbon enclosures.

Since arriving at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, we have already begun the slow integration of some of the Highland Farm gibbons to resident gibbons at Wildlife Friends Foundation.

Johnny and Chester – White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar)

Johnny and Chester are one of the few pairs rescued from Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary. Johnny is 30 years old and was originally rescued from the pet trade – he lived in Pattaya with a Swiss man until he was handed over to Highland Farm in 2000. Johnny spent about six years of his life as a pet. Chester was the first gibbon at Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary. She was a baby when a hunter killed her mother for meat, and she was then offered for sale before being rescued by Bill and Pharanee Deters in 1991. The Deters took Chester into their care and then founded the Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary in Northern Thailand.

Johnny and Chester are doing really well at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. We are hopeful that in the future, when we have more gibbon islands available, they could live on a natural island for the rest of their days.

Fred – Northern white-cheeked gibbon Nomascus leucogenys – rescued in September 2023.

Fred who is missing one arm, is one of the critically endangered Northern white-cheeked gibbons rescued in September 2023. Fred has been solitary almost his whole life, so now he is at Wildlife Friends Foundation we hope to find him a mate and he is currently being introduced to a Golden-cheeked gibbon called Nin. Despite only having one arm, Fred is remarkably agile – he swings around much like a fully-able gibbon.

We are very grateful to the Jim Cronin Memorial Fund for the grant to build some of the new gibbon enclosures and look forward to working with them again in the future to rescue more primates in need of our help.”

To learn more about Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand – Visit their website