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Submitted by Tony Smallwood, WAR volunteer
tonysmal@upc1.loxinfo.co.th

27 November 2001

Press Release
14 November 2001

Release of gibbons into mainland forest

On November 30, at 10.00 am, the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand will release two gibbons from its Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP) which is located at Bangpae Waterfall, Khao Prataew, Ampher Thalang, Phuket. The pair Tara, a 6 year old female, and Fish, a 3 year old male, have undergone a long process involving losing their dependence on humans and have attained a state of self sufficiency which allows them to be set free in a natural habitat. Although over the past years the GRP has released many pairs of gibbons on isolated islands off the Phuket coast this is the first time in a decade that a release has been allowed into the mainland the forest.

The event is planned to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday on 5th of December.

The programme schedule is as follows:
09:00 a.m. Leave Bangpae Waterfall on foot
09:45 a.m. Arrive at the releasing point
10:00 a.m. The Governor of Phuket Province will release the gibbons into a no hunting area allowing them to live a natural free life within the forest.

We would like to invite you to participate and witness this important event which holds great significance for further releases of this kind and for the future of wildlife in Thailand in general.

For inclusion and further information please contact:

The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WAR)
235 Sukhumvit 31, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel/fax: 662-0898, 261-9670, 261-9672
E-mail: war@war-thai.org
www.war-thai.org