Welcome to the Wildlife Friends of Thailand
The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) is a registered foundation under Thai law. The foundation has as main objectives the conservation of wildlife, protection of natural resources and the environment.
Currently the WFFT runs several projects from hands-on wildlife rescue, medical care, wildlife rehabilitation, research on wildlife and marine mammals as well as the release of wild animals back to the wild.
Here are some of the WFFT projects which need your help:
The Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC):
The Wildlife Rescue centre is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals previously exploited as pets or used for profit within the tourist industry. Interested in working with primates and other wild animals? Volunteers required.
The Elephant Refuge and Education Centre (EREC):
The Elephant Refuge and Education centre offers refuge and a sustainable existence to elephants forced to work on the streets as begging tools and tourist attractions. Interested in volunteering with elephants? Volunteers required.
NEW - Marine Research and Rescue:
Our new marine project, located in Trang Province, specialises in the research, protection and rescue of marine animals native to Thailand, particularly whales, dolphins, dugongs (or sea cows) and turtles. Interested in marine research? Volunteers required.
A fully equipped mobile wildlife clinic, the only one in Indo-China! The clinic's equipment and specially designed interior was sponsored by Care for The Wild International.
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre:
Native to parts of Thailand, the gibbon is an endangered primate and we currently run a rehabilitation program with the aim of allowing these beautiful creatures to return to the wild in the future.
NEW! The Gibbon Release & Research Centre:
Located in Maehongson, this unique project was build by WFFT in cooperation with the Department of National Parks and Mahidol University. The main objective of the project is to prepare gibbons for reintroduction to the wild, before then releasing them and monitoring their behaviour.
NEW! The Forest Restoration Project:
A new project on and around the grounds of the WFFT Rescue centre and Elephant Refuge. The WFFT has started to restore degraded forests and is planning to replant forests in the direct surroundings of our other projects. Volunteers required.
An educational centre about Thailand's wildlife is located at the centre, and groups of students of all ages visit the jungle with Wildlife Friends staff and volunteers to learn more about life in Thailand's rainforests. WFFT staff and volunteers also visit schools to inform and educate students about animal welfare and conservation issues.
Latest WFFT Images

Latest Rescue
Rescued Macaque: Chained as a 'Pet' for 20 Years
August 2010 - A long tail macaque was handed in to WFFT, after initially being brought in for treatment at the WFFT Wildlife Hospital. The female, named Namjai, had been kept as a 'pet' for 20 years by her owners, living chained up in a local town. She was brought to us with a severe wound to her neck, which was caused by the chain she constantly wore becoming too tight over time and growing into her flesh. In certain areas, the macaque's skin had actually grown over the chain... More

Latest News
Baby Pileated Gibbon Handed Over to WFFT
August 2010 - Last week, another new baby primate arrived at the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre, this time a female Pileated gibbon. The 7 month old gibbon had been living as a pet for a few months, before her owner realised that keeping a wild animal as a pet is not a good idea, as well as being illegal in Thailand... More
Running Campaigns
Tourism & Wildlife
2007 to present - Our Tourism and Wildlife Campaign aims to inform people of the cruelty and explotation involved in having their photographs taken with exotic wild animals as holiday souvenirs. Not only is the use of animals for entertainment inhumane and unacceptable from an ethical point of view, but also extremely damaging from a conservation perspective... More
Orangutan Smuggling
2006 to present - Hundreds of orangutans are being smuggled through Thailand on a daily basis. Currently, there are over 70 young orangutans waiting to be repatriated, but despite their uncertain fate, the government is failing to act... More



