IPPL’s Helping Hand - Asia

December 2003

Long-term assistance for a gibbon release project in Borneo, A. B. Chanee, Kalaweit, Indonesia

The Kalaweit Project is a gibbon rehabilitation project in Borneo. The project has already taken in 111 gibbons. The first couple was released last year, a second will follow in January 2004, and there will be releases every six months.

Starting this year, the Kalaweit Project began its activities in Sumatra to help the gibbons and siamangs originating from this island. During the last few months, 32 gibbons and siamangs have been received.

The Kalaweit project also struggles to end the trafficking of animals and the hunting and ownership of gibbons. IPPL’s assistance is crucial for the Kalaweit Project, which has been receiving help for several years. The support of IPPL allows us to care for the gibbons and also to broadcast our message of peace between humans and animals. IPPL is one of the few sponsors that, concerned for the future of primates, has helped Kalaweit over the long term.

Keeping a sanctuary on its feet, Pharanee Chotiros-Deters, Highland Farm, Thailand

The Highland Farm Gibbon and Wildlife Sanctuary (recently renamed as the William E. Deters Foundation for Gibbon and Wildlife Conservation) was founded in 1996. The Foundation was established on June 16, 2003, to honor my beloved husband, after William and several of our Thai animal care workers were brutally murdered on May 10, 2002.

Highland Farm is a refuge center on 35 acres for 37 abandoned, mistreated and/or physically abused gibbons. These little singing apes come to the Foundation by different paths, yet their need for protection, special care and love is the same. Since their capture in Thailand’s forests as babies, none have lived in the forests and/or with other gibbons. Sadly, all are totally dependent on human intervention for survival.

Although my husband has been gone for over a year, the work must go on. We are very grateful that we received a special grant from IPPL and The Arcus Foundation, because since my husband has gone, I have not received his retirement money from the US for over a year now.

We, including gibbons and many animals at the foundation, lived on that money. We couldn’t build the 15 new enclosures for the new gibbons on our waiting list because of lack of funds. So I feel relieved now that help has arrived.

Working closely with primate activists, Rosek Nursahid, ProFauna, Indonesia

ProFauna Indonesia (formerly KSBK) has worked with IPPL for eight years now. At that time, ProFauna asked for help from IPPL to fund our primate trade monitoring program in Java, Indonesia. Surprisingly, IPPL, granted the proposal. Since then, ProFauna and IPPL have been working closely to fight against the primate trade in Indonesia.

IPPL played an important role in the development of ProFauna, which is now recognized as the leading animal protection organization in Indonesia, with its thousand members.

Shirley McGreal, by consistently promoting ProFauna to other international organizations, has made it possible for us to "go international." Shirley’s kind help has enabled ProFauna to work with many international organizations on various issues.

ProFauna has built an animal rescue center, which is home to many endangered primates confiscated from illegal owners, such as siamang gibbons, Borneo gibbons, slow lorises, Javan ebony langurs, and Javan gibbons.

Through operating the rescue center, ProFauna is more active in fighting the primate trade and trade in other rare animals. As the result, ProFauna activists have often experienced terroristic and anarchic attacks from the animal trading mafia.

Thanks to IPPL for its support. We are proud to be a part of IPPL and it work to continuously speak out for primate protection.

Preserving biodiversity in northeastern India, Soumyadeep Datta, Director, Nature’s Beckon, Assam, India

Nature’s Beckon has greatly benefited from the support of IPPL in its conservation work. Nature’s Beckon has been highly successful in starting community-based conservation programs for nonhuman primates in northeast India, thanks to the support of IPPL and its members.

IPPL has brought the conservation efforts of Nature’s Beckon to the knowledge of an international audience through IPPL News, which has greatly boosted the morale of the members of Nature’s Beckon.

Nature’s Beckon thankfully acknowledges the support of IPPL and its members on the occasion of IPPL’s 30th anniversary.

Battling chimp exploitation as "entertainment," Louis Ng, IPPL Representative in Singapore

I first got in touch with IPPL during my university days. I was deeply interested in primate conservation and was keen to hold an exhibition in Singapore to create awareness of the plight of apes. I wrote to several organizations asking for help and financial support. IPPL not only responded to my mail but offered me a grant, enabling a group of us to create the much-needed awareness in Singapore of the plight of all apes through the world.

Today, together with a group of dedicated friends, we have founded an animal welfare organization in Singapore, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), and I now work full-time in animal welfare.

IPPL remains a strong ally in our fight to end the abuse and exploitation of animals. Together, we’ve put an end to the cruel practice of using baby chimpanzees as photography props at Singapore Zoo. With help from IPPL, we’ve also investigated the trade of surplus chimpanzees at Singapore Zoo, and recently we’ve confiscated a vervet monkey kept illegally as a pet in Singapore.

ACRES and IPPL are miles apart, on different continents. However, IPPL is always there, right beside us when we are in need of help. Ending the abuse of animals in undoubtedly an uphill battle. I , however, remain confident that we will win this battle, through sheer determination and with the continued and enduring support of IPPL.