Lantao is restoring the road. A crack broke in the right arm of the long-tailed macaque and suffered severe trauma when found on the KO Lanta island in Thailand.
During the rescue, the little monkey was blind in one eye and was seriously malnourished.
But Lantao’s luck was lucky: volunteers took her to the Wildlife Hospital of the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT) in Phetchaburi Province, about two hours south of Bangkok.
What happened to the baby monkey may never be fully explained.
“We can only assume that Lanta is attacked – maybe a dog or other macaque,” said veterinarian Dr. Kwan.
When the hospital opened in March 2005, it was the first facility of such a facility in Thailand. Almost 20 years later, it remains one of the few such centers in the country and is widely regarded as one of the most respected.
WFFT is usually the first call port when injured wildlife is found.
Gibbons and pangolins as patients
Patients range from tigers and leopards to sun bears, pangolins, eldest sons, otters, crocodiles and colorful trumpets. Elephants have own adjacent hospitals since 2015.
WFFT was founded in 2001 by Dutchman Edwin Wiek. This man is a legend in Thailand, considered a fearless animal rights activist who has ignored all odds for years.
A book written about his unusual life, “Wild Life – The Story of Edwin Wick.”
His NGOs provide shelter for countless species, giving them a second chance to gain life in a spacious fence.
Many of these animals were previously exploited by tourism, forced to breed on illegal farms, or were crammed into narrow, inappropriate cages as pets.
Many people arrive here with illness or weakening or opening their wounds – that’s why the foundation was built a hospital with X-ray rooms and a well-equipped operating room a few years later.
Vick often negotiates with authorities and owners for years to save helpless animals from terrible living conditions.
As was the case in 2016, Joe was a Southern pigtail macaque whose mother was killed by poachers in 1988.
“I’ve seen a lot of animal pain, but what Joe has experienced is one of the most terrible things I’ve encountered,” the 59-year-old said.
Joe was locked in a small cage between two houses and was stranded in trash and excrement for 25 years. Vic talks about a “hell.”
Apart from the mice, Joe has few tourists – for social animals like monkeys, it’s almost unbearable.
“I’ve been thinking about everything I’ve been through for these 25 years – Joe has always been in that cage for all this time.”
Wiek has lived in the Thai country he adopted since the late 1980s and speaks the language perfectly. This helps greatly in complex rescue operations – in a country where animals are often seen as sources of income and less common, it also helps drive change.
Wiek is the only foreigner authorized to provide animal welfare issues to the government.
Tiger hugs as a tourist destination
When the Phuket Zoo had to close the door during the coronavirus pandemic, WFFT rescued 11 tigers, as well as an Asian black bear and a sun bear, the concrete cages were too small.
The campaign made headlines across the country. In 2023, WFFT received 12 tigers and 3 leopards from an illegal breeding farm. The tiger embracing drug addicts is a popular tourist destination in Thailand.
“We believe that most of these tigers feel the grass and sunlight under their paws for the first time after they arrive at the new shelter,” said a WFFT employee.
This is a similar story for many animals that were allowed to move around freely for the first time – especially the nearly twenty elephants currently being cared for.
Almost everyone was beaten, blamed and tortured by their Mahouts (elephant handling program) to keep tourists carrying them without resistance.
Due to years of violence, a cow rescued by WFFT had a significant abscess on her legs. This will be treated regularly in wildlife hospitals.
The organization offers visitors the I Love Phants Lodge, which includes a stunning view of the landscape and a swimming pool with elephant views.
Nearby, Gibbons swings in the tree. Apart from many rescued street dogs and cats, visitors are not allowed to be too close to other animals – they could have lived as wild as possible.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwan and her colleagues face new challenges every day. The helmet’s cassava Bernie has a bright blue and red neck that may have been smuggled into the country from Papua New Guinea.
When he was brought in, he suffered serious injuries to the head. Today, the flightless bird is going well, but still requires professional care.
Constipation Python
Whether it is a tiger with toothache, a severely pregnant gibbon who needs a caesarean section, a sterilization of bear macaques, or a monkey who suffers electric shock while climbing – they are all treated in wildlife hospitals.
“Recently, we even had a constipated Python that we were able to help,” Dr. Kwan said. Sadly, amputation of severely injured body parts is also part of daily life.
WFFT is currently building a new, larger wildlife hospital for Thai animals.
For example, when it opens in May, it will also be able to perform the latest surgical procedures with an endoscope. In the future, this will also be able to help patients with complex injuries – such as Little Lantao.
Typical red face of bear macaque can be seen on the surgical table at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand Professional Hospital. Carola Frentzen/DPA
Edwin Wiek, Dutch founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand Hospital, hugged the patient. The facility is the first and best of the type in the country. Carola Frentzen/DPA
Veterinarian Dr. Kwan checked the level of an injured macaque patient at the Thai Wildlife Friends Foundation Hospital. The facility is celebrating 20 years of helping the country’s wildlife. Carola Frentzen/DPA
