ANIMAL |
New Baby
After a long wait, Kushta finally gave birth to a baby female on January 1st 2009. The baby is called ‘Peemai’ which means New Year in Thai, and is doing well. Mai is a caring father and now lets Kushta and Pee Mai eat from the basket first before taking his food. |
|
Max and Jonus
Hopes for Max and Jonus to be paired as a couple have been lost. They were placed in adjoining cages for observation but showed no signs of bonding. The corridor was opened, allowing them access into each other’s cages, but they soon had to be separated as they started to fight. Jonus is smaller than Max and seemed intimidated by him. She has now been moved next door to Bobo to see if this pairing could be more successful. |
|
Nuan
Nuan has made a full recovery. Staff were shocked to find her with a broken arm in December, and have been giving her a daily calcium supplement to treat a possible deficiency and aid the natural healing of her bone. She is now using the arm well and has been moved next to Max in the Rehab site to see if the two show signs of wanting to form a pair together.
|
|
Santi and Lamut
After a long period of observation, Santi and Lamut are sharing a cage. They had been living side by side and wanted to interact; so on the 9th January the door between them was opened. They are bonding well but squabble over food. It is hoped that this couple will start a family and eventually return to the wild. |
|
 Flick
Flick has been doing very well in the Quarantine site. We would like to put her in with Beauty, Jane and Seagame, who are babies of a similar age, so that she can learn to socialise with other gibbons. For now staff and volunteers are doing thorough behavioural observations to see how they will interact and ensure that Flick will be safe in joining the group. |
|
 Gibby
Gibby had been suffering from bald patches in her fur, but after being on medication for a few months, she has finally made a full recovery and her fur has grown back to normal. A new cage was built for her at the Rehab site next to Honey, the agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis), and she is now one of the few gibbons that the public can see from the viewing platform. Gibby is a Golden Cheek gibbon (Hylobates gabriellae) and so unfortunately cannot be part of our breed and release programme as we have no other gibbons of her species. She will therefore stay in her new home with Honey and Guinness, the pileated gibbon, so that local people and tourists can learn about the different species of gibbon and their plight for survival.
|
|
|
|
RESCUED ANIMAL |
 Dusky Langur
A dusky langur called Nim was brought in to the GRP on 7th January 2009. A poacher had kept Nim as a pet for four years, having killed her parents for meat. His intention had been to kill her for meat too once she was big enough, but a caring neighbour bought her from him and gave her to the GRP. Nim was not well, so was placed in a recovery cage next to Balloon, a young dusky langur already at the GRP, and given medical treatment. Despite the best efforts of staff and volunteers, she sadly passed away on 12th February 2009.
|
|
Brahminy Kite
A Brahminy kite without wings was found on a road to Surin Beach, Phuket. The couple that found the bird brought it straight in to the GRP, where staff assessed its condition. The bird has now been sent to the WARED site in Ranong.
|
|
|
|
EDUCATION |
January and February 2009 saw several local school visits to Khao Pra Thaew Non-Hunting Area. GRP staff gave presentations about the species of animals found in the forest, and the differences between gibbons and monkeys. Games and activities were designed to teach students the names of trees, birds and other animals, and about the importance of conserving our rainforest and protecting the wildlife within it. GRP hosted talks for the following schools:
15 January 2009 – 150 students from Anuban Phuket School
3 February 2009 – a group of students from Non-formal Education Phuket (Korsornor)
11 February 2009 – 300 students from Darasamut School
17 February 2009 – Kajornkiat Siksa School.
|
|
|
|
GENERAL |
Fundraising nights
The GRP took part in the Thalang Old Town Festival between 31 January and 2 February 2009 as part of a new publicity and fundraising venture. Thanks to Khun Hong, the woman who prints our t-shirts, GRP was given permission to use the area in front of a house to set up a small shop for three days. It was a great success, with many people showing interest in the project as well as supporting the project by buying t-shirts and fisherman pants. We are looking forward to participating in other festivals of this kind, to increase awareness of our project throughout Phuket.
|
|
|
|
FOREST |
Payu Group
Payu, Namthip and Dao are still happy together. This group was being fed 0.5kg of supplementary fruit and vegetables per day, until it was decided to decrease the food support to this group. They are now being fed every second day. All members of this group are often seen around the food baskets together.
|
| |
|
|
Hope Group
All members of the Hope Group including Thong are observed regularly to make sure that the family is living happily in the forest without any disturbance from humans. |
| |
|
|
Arun Group
Regular observational monitoring continues, and two all day behavioural observations were carried out for this group over the last two months. All members are healthy and Redy is growing well.
|
| |
|
|
|
