Report from the Wildlife Conservation Project in Thailand

Bye bye Germany!

Hey, I'm Thuy and I worked as a volunteer in a wildlife and elephant rescue center in Thailand for a month. At the end of last year (2016) I decided not to spend the next summer holidays lazily at the beach or something, but to try something new and meaningful. So I said goodbye to Germany on July 22nd and landed in Bangkok a day later, was taken from the BKK Airport to the Wildlife Center and flashed straight from Thailand. When I got there, I was greeted by a very nice and lively wildlife coordinator.

Let's get on the truck to see the area of ​​the center!
Just the idea of ​​visiting the site on the back of a truck sounded adventurous. After a two-hour walk through the main area of ​​the center, we headed out in the pouring rain (yes, it was monsoon season) to visit the large groups of elephants and macaques (monkeys). This is how I spent my arrival day.

You gotta go to work, work, work ...
During the four weeks I lived in a small bungalow with a maximum of three other people. On the first day I got up expectantly at 5:30 a.m. to be on the mat ready for work an hour later (or to meet with the approx. 40-60 other volunteers). Since I wanted to work in the wildlife project, we got down to our daily tasks in small groups, such as preparing food, feeding, cleaning the enclosure, making "enrichments"... At 8 a.m. we had breakfast together, for which an hour break was planned (also at lunchtime). , so the day was divided into three parts. In addition, there were volunteer meetings every week, at which rules and news were discussed and we were informed about the background of the animals, why they live in the center, how long they have been and whether it will be possible to release them back into the wild. These meetings were important and exciting at the same time because we could learn the "story" of almost every animal.

Returning from a day feels like coming home
The work was interesting and I had a lot of fun, but a day off, where you could just relax with other volunteers, do nothing or explore the neighboring places, was always welcome. The others came from all over the world, but mainly from English or French speaking countries. In this international group, which also included all age groups, new friends were quickly made. Especially in the last week, it felt like I was part of a huge family: the coordinators were always available and incredibly personable, as were the other volunteers, and over time I also became more and more friends with the Thai employees there.

Take me back!
I can recommend this project to anyone who is open to anything new, to Thailand and its culture, who is interested in animals and, above all, in the fact that they are best allowed to live where they come from: wild, in nature. If you want to work here at the wildlife center, you should quickly forget the expectation of riding elephants or taking selfies with cute little monkeys. Because it is precisely against these people that the Center is trying to work. Even if you are not allowed to touch most of the animals, you can get close to them. The routine makes it possible to get to know individuals better, their behavior and their habits. On my last day, I revisited all the animals I had taken care of on a daily basis. Wistfully I said goodbye to them and to all (human) friends before I made my way home with a heavy heart. Yes, I had to find my way in a less luxurious living situation than at home, but it was a wonderful time, full of new experiences, full of unforgettable moments and in which I was able to meet many new people.

Report from the Wildlife Conservation Project in Thailand, by Thuy S., 30.12.17