A gibbon in the family
Flipping through the pages of my hotel's What to do in Phuket guide, I came across a piece about the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project at Bang Pae Waterfall and I knew right away that I just had to go. I love animals and I had never seen a real gibbon in my life, except for on Animal Planet.
Gibbons are little apes that live in the trees in the jungles of Asia. They look as if they should belong to the monkey family, but actually they are apes. I knew some Thais keep them as pets, but I did not know much more than that.
By the time I arrived at the centre, I was sweating under a scorching sun. But instead of rushing off to the cool waterfall, I headed straight to take my first glance at real-life gibbons.
The centre is a research division of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (Warf). While I was there, one of the volunteers, Janet from the Netherlands, told me about how the little apes are rescued and brought to the centre.
As I sat there watching the beautiful creatures swing back and forth and cuddle with each other, tears welled up in my eyes. It was such a moving sight, and I was glad there were people who were doing something to help the endangered apes and give them a chance for a new life.
After about an hour, I made a donation, signed a book and then saw a sign that read 'Adopt a Gibbon'. For 1,500 baht (HK$336) a year, you can adopt a gibbon and you get a certificate and a Warf T-shirt. You also get an update on your gibbon every two months.
Immediately I decided to adopt Bam Bam, a four-year-old female. I hope she and her pal Nat will have a family one day so they can go back to the forest.
Bam Bam was found in a cardboard box on the side of a road. A couple took her home and took care of her for a fortnight before they heard of the rescue centre. While she was with them, the couple gave her a stuffed turtle for comfort.
She had become so attached to the turtle - obviously missing her mother - that when the rescue centre staff took the turtle to wash it, she would sit in her cage the whole day rocking back and forth and banging her head.
But now she has two friends to play with and fresh fruit to eat every day. I'm so happy for her, and all the other gibbons that have been rescued.
I stayed in Phuket for another two days just so I could go back to see Bam Bam and visit the Soi (street in Thai) Dog Foundation.
I now have a gibbon and when I got home, I showed my nieces and nephews - and everyone at Young Post - all the pictures.
Helen Miao is the chief sub-editor of Young Post
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51krrPAyJyjnmdma314f5VonqKakqS7brLApqClsQ%3D%3D