Wildlife Center in Thailand
The Volunteers and Permanent Staff
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Jan 2009
My sister asked me about the other volunteers and I realized more people
might be curious about all the other people who are spending time
helping at the Wildlife Rescue Center.
There are people from all
over the world: The Netherlands, USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, UK
(Britain and Scotland), Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France, NZ, Spain and
Argentina.
Yes, the average age is 20-something but there are
several of us in the “mature” category. Ray currently holds the title of
Elder Male but Ronald, from the Netherlands on his sixth visit as a
volunteer, is a close second. There are a few other woman besides me in
the 60 plus category. Women outnumber the men about 4 to 1, but everyone
has been getting along very well, regardless of gender or age.
Ron feeding the dogs
Tom cleaning the bird perch
Besides Ronald, there are several repeat volunteers and others who keep
extending their stay. This is difficult. If you fly into Thailand you
only get a 30 day Visa. Extensions for 15 days can be arranged by
leaving Thailand by land for Myanmar or Cambodia but that means time
consuming and expensive trips. A longer stay must be arranged in your
home country and even then, a Visa must be extended every three months.
January, July and August are the most popular months for volunteers.
January is popular because the Christmas season has finished in other
countries and people are looking forward to a warmer climate plus Aussie
students are also on their long Summer vacation. July and August are
vacation periods for UK, North American and European students. This
January there have been between 27 and 36 volunteers at the center.
There have been as few as 8 or 10 volunteers in the shoulder months. I
am told it is a madhouse then as everyone must work right through the
day with few breaks to get all the essential tasks completed (i.e.
feeding the animals). The extras and special projects must be left until
there are more volunteers.
Pizza night at the center
A photo op before heading off for an excursion
Emma and Simon, both from the UK, have
been permanent employees for the last 1 1/2 and 2 years, respectively.
Both started as volunteers and just stayed on. Emma is the volunteer
coordinator and Simon handles special projects and new construction.
Lucy, an Aussie Vet Nurse, is now at the Center indefinitely. Cheryl, a
Surgical Vet from Australia has returned full time with her American
husband Mat, whom she met at the Center two years ago.
Of course there is the founder Edwin Wiek, from the Netherlands, and his
partner Noi, who live on site. Their extensive Thai and International
connections are invaluable to the organization.Most of us have learned
to say “Hello” and “Thank you” in Thai but that is about the extent of
our Thai. Very few of the Thai staff speak English so the fluent Thai of
both Edwin and Noi are essential to the operation and relations with the
Thai community.
Only Thai employees get to feed Miao
The permanent Thai employees
are essential to the running of this large operation. They prepare our
excellent meals, do necessary repairs and new construction, bring in
supplies, clear land for new enclosures amongst other duties. Several
have become expert in handling the animals and we depend on them to feed
the more dangerous ones.
Some volunteers only sign up for one week. In those cases, they work
with the Elephants as the Thai mahoots have the first line care of the
elephants and the cores done by the volunteers are easily learned.
Volunteers staying two or more weeks work with the other animals but you
can arrange to spend some of your volunteer days with the elephants. Ray
and I didn’t take advantage of that option but we spent part of a day
off accompanying the Elephants and their volunteers.
Ray and I
highly recommend volunteering at the Wildlife Rescue Center. If any of
you are interested, look up the website at
http://www.wfft.org/
and send them an email.
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