Celebrating the Success of the WARN Asia 2023 Conference

We are delighted to share that the Wildlife Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Asia Conference hosted by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) was a great success. 

This important event brought together representatives from many Asian countries and various organisations to tackle urgent wildlife conservation issues in Asia, with a focus on the challenges posed by the pandemic and the adaptive measures taken by organizations and conservationists to build a stronger future.

We were also honored to have Mr. Attapol Charoenshunsa, the Director-General of Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP), formally opened the conference. WFFT is grateful for his commitment to protecting and preserving the region’s wildlife.

WARN Secretary General and WFFT Founder Edwin Wiek delivered a welcome message acknowledging the profound impact of the pandemic on the wildlife conservation community. 

“Since our last WARN annual meeting in 2019, we have not been able to meet up in person due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic that cost so many lives, and financial losses and has also cost the wildlife conservation community dearly.

“While many of us in early 2020 thought this pandemic would blow over in a few months and probably stay within the regions of Asia, it actually went global with complete lockdowns of whole countries and continents.

“The data that showed that this virus originated in wildlife and was most probably spread to humans through the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife made it for most of us an even more bitter pill to swallow”.

During the conference, participants engaged in insightful discussions, sharing their experiences and best practices. They explored innovative strategies for conservation management, sustainable practices, and raising public awareness. The exchange of ideas and knowledge emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation in safeguarding Asia’s rich biodiversity.

As a sanctuary dedicated to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, WFFT was proud to play a crucial role in hosting this remarkable event. It provided a platform to highlight the challenges faced by the wildlife conservation community while showcasing the resilience and dedication of organisations across the region.

We would like to express our gratitude to all the participants, speakers, and supporters who contributed to the success of the WARN Asia Conference: Animals Asia Foundation, Free the Bears, Lingnan University, PAWS, Centre for Orangutan Protection, The Orangutan Project, Indonesian Orangutan Conservation Forum (FORINA), Conservation Action Network Indonesia, Wallacea Nature, Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife (LCTW), Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Fullmoon Family Foundation, Wildlife In Need Rescue Center, ACRES, Mandai Nature / Mandai Wildlife Group, National Institute of Ecology, South Korea, Taiwan Wildlife Society, WildOne Wildlife Conservation Association (WWCA), Pingtung Rescue Center, Freeland, Save Elephant Foundation, Kasetsart University Raptor Rehabilitation Unit, Love Wildlife Foundation, The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, Mahidol University, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thailand, Species360, Three Monkeys Wildlife Conservancy. Your unwavering support fuels our efforts to make a positive impact on wildlife conservation in Asia.

Stay tuned for more updates as we set our sights on WARN 2024, aiming to make it bigger and better than ever before. Together, we will continue to make a difference for our precious wildlife. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.