WFFT Thailand crisis updated with videos 23rd Feb

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:53:39 GMT

New video (comes with the usual warning!) THIS is what the Thai government are doing to these poor animals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB-hOQhvZvw

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:26:20 GMT

Today the DNP have taken 54 more animals and injured several along the way. if you want to see what they are doing to these animals, please watch the videos below. **WARNING - THEY ARE DISTRESSING AND SHOW INJURED AND TERRIFIED ANIMALS but I'm trying to get this message across in any way I can now as this is still ongoing (they will return tomorrow) and the Thai government are allowing it. We need more signatures, more publicity and more letters writing to wildlife organisations, celebrities, embassies, tourist boards etc (templates are available). You can click away from this post and do nothing, or you can help by spreading the word....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmSajdvx174 (video of injured macaque after capture)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg8YGVabFeE (video of another macaque being knocked unconscious and almost drowning during capture)

Petition link again: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/urgent-plea-for-rescued-thai-wildlife/

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:29:10 GMT

After a few days of relative calm and talks, including a visit from the Director General of the DNP, they have returned with additional force to WFFT (they left armed guards camping there overnight last night) and are now intent on removing 103 animals. They refuse to accept the official paperwork from Edwin and so far today have removed three beautiful bears (seen in my original video) which have been darted and put in cages they cannot even stand up or turn around in when they wake up and more monkeys. These animals will no doubt never be seen again and the situation is now at crisis point.

The petition has been reopened with a new goal of 50,000 signatures so here's the link again for anyone who hasn't yet seen it/signed/forwarded/shared on FB etc http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/urgent-plea-for-rescued-thai-wildlife/

The Wildlife Friends Foundations's FB page also gives regular updates and videos and shows photos of the DNP's "facility" and the conditions where the animals are living once taken. It's not pretty viewing.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:34:20 GMT

Sorry to bombard you guys but I know quite a few people have been following this story as events unfold. Confirmation has been received that the DNP will definitely be returning tomorrow to remove more animals. Keep spreading the word and sharing the petition. It's not over and there's more barbaric action to come in the form of animal mishandling and removal to inappropriate accommodation...

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:47:52 GMT

Monday's update - all quiet over the weekend (obviously the DNP only "care" on weekdays) but they are due to return today or tomorrow for yet more animals.

A small victory has been won in that Edwin, the Foundation's founder, has been to court and the DNP will be prosecuted for illegally taking some of the wrong animals ( basically it turns out that the Department of National Parks don't know which species are protected and which aren't!) However, they are still due to take more and still no one knows the fate of the 13 already taken. If anyone was brave enough to watch the video footage of Tamiaruak, who was knocked unconscious by a big stick/net, landed in a water trough and was unconcscious for some time before being bundled into a crate semi-conscious and refused veterinary treatment, he is still one of those unaccounted for.

Just to make it easier to find for anyone who hasn't yet signed, here's the link to the petition again...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/urgent-plea-for-rescued-thai-wildlife/

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:15:21 GMT

Update from their vn at the scene half an hour ago:

Wonderful news! Confiscations have stopped for now, and we have a strong legal case against them for abusing our animals. Looks like the DNP will be going to court! They have reduced the number of animals from 103, to 27, and they will want to fight this to the end. Things are looking positive, and hoping it stays that... way. The support around the world is building, and the pressure is on. No animals left the rescue centre today! Can't thank you enough for all the messages of support, they keep us smiling, and strong. This is not over until every animals is returned to their home. Today was a win for the animals!

It does however say 27 animals and so far they have only taken 13, which means they will be back on Monday. Keep sending the link out and collecting those signatures...

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:52:06 GMT

Latest update from WFFT is that there were no raids today but they are expected back on Monday to take more animals. Eight of the captured animals are now in some awful zoo in Bangkok, the other five are still unaccounted for...

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:38:43 GMT

Thanks for the support and signatures everyone.

It appears there's been no action today although they are still threatening to come back and no one knows when. Lots of people from around Thailand have turned up to protest/support the staff today and Thai news channels are also on scene. Not sure whether it's just gone quiet because it's Saturday or whether they're starting to realise what they have taken on and the publicity/bad press it's gaining them from all over the world.

Don't think it's over though - we still need more signatures as we still need to get back those poor animals who have already been taken and ensure the DNP don't come back when it's died down....

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

kerrywilliams2007 — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:24:20 GMT

no words can express it, just tears.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Kim — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:45:10 GMT

I've just signed. I'm lost for words to be honest, all I can say is I hope it helps and that something good will come of it in the end.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:17:49 GMT

Sadly, I can't even watch my lovely holiday video of our time at the centre now either. One of the best memories of my life to date and it's trashed.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

emmadilemma — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:58:43 GMT

Signed. Can`t watch the video will get too mad

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:40:35 GMT

Every signature helps - thank you!

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

julie cozze — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:32:02 GMT

signed, hope it helps.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:27:08 GMT

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/17/armed-thai-officials-raid-wildlife-rescue-ngo/

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:52:11 GMT

Meow is fine thanks. he's been left alone as they accept that he is under treatment and cannot be moved.

Apparently this morning, a famous Thai celeb turned up and caused a stand off whereby he threatened that the police would have to arrest him before they could take anymore animals. I've no idea what he actually said (the video is shown on their fb page but is in Thai) but he stood his ground and the DNP left empty handed, having turned up with the intention of removing 90 animals this morning! I believe armed soldiers/police remian on site day and night though. The petition now has over 12000 signatures on it (still 8000 to go before Monday) and numerous countries are getting more and more involved in terms of coverage on the news, famous names tweeting and signing the , worldwide wildlife organisations helping where they can although some have felt unable to, due to the politics involved. However, tomorrow is another day and no doubt the DNP will be back so it's more important than ever to keep telling people about this atrocity. Even if they did decide not to remove any more animals, we still need to keep the pressure on to get the other back as God knows whose hands they are in now.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Suze — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:11:24 GMT

Any update on how Meow is doing through all of this?

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:43:59 GMT

Today's official update from the Foundation's founder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaxCukNCp1k

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:05:44 GMT

Bump!

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:39:44 GMT

Ditto - stayed up and then laid awake wishing I hadn't watched all the videos of captures on their website and then made the mistake of watching more this morning, including one macaque, who they almost drowned in the process and then refused veterinary help. My tear ducts are now empty...

The good news is (if you can call it that) is that reports are starting to appear on various news channels around the world and major websites suuch as WWF, Born Free etc so the world WILL know what is going on and how corrupt the whole system is but I just can't get those damn terrified animals' faces out of my head and wondering what the hell will happen to them all now.

Thanks for your support! x

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Siobhan Steven — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:33:12 GMT

Stayed up late last night on their FB page, signed everything I could. Am totally behind them and their destruction of using animals for tourist pleasure, wish I'd never gone to the Tiger sanctuary in Kohchanaburi, what a rort. Anyone who goes, or knows anyone who is going to Asia, encourage them not to frequent these place, no photos with Tiger cubs etc. Rather donate to the charities saving the animals and forgoe the photo. Good luck to these guys they were in my thoughts all day today.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:10:07 GMT

PLEASE - we need 10,000 signatures by Monday. There are new videos appearing on their website all the time of the animals being captured and taken away but be warned, some of them are distressing. These apreviously abused nimals are being taken from a place of sanctuary to god only knows where and the government are allowing this. Please take a moment to sign, it could make all the difference.

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:24:33 GMT

Thanks Emma. Having been there so recently and met all of the animals and heard their individual stories/backgrounds, I feel so so sad and upset about what's going on. The Facebook updates are coming thick and fast and it seems people all around the world who have had any involvement with them are on a mission to contact embassies, newspapers and tv channels etc to make sure the truth gets out. The world truly will be watching Thailand but I just hope it's not too little, too late. The photos and videos on their page of the animals being seized are awful.

To anyone else reading, PLEASE sign - there's an option to not display your name if you don't want to go public but the more signatures on there, the better. The last lot of animals who were seized from a rescue centre in similar cirumstances some years ago, were never seen again.

If you're still not sure whether you can be bothered, watch the video in my original post, look at their little faces, remember that each one has already been rescued from a fate worse than death and then wonder where they are and what they're going through tonight.....

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Emma Purnell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:16:18 GMT

Signed. I really hope it makes a difference and is all resolved soon. Poor loves

Re: For anyone interested in volunteering/wildlife/Thailand

Dippy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:44:04 GMT

http://tradingplacesglobal.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/wildlife-in-peril-in-thailand/