PRESS RELEASE:
Pumpkin treats are on the menu this Halloween for some of the many animal residents at a huge wildlife rescue centre in Thailand.
In photographs released by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), tigers, primates, and elephants can be seen tucking into the spooky treats.
Staff and volunteers at the rescue centre customised the hand-carved pumpkins to cater for each species. Vegetable-loving animals like elephants ate the whole pumpkin, while other animals like otters and gibbons had their pumpkins carved out and filled with their favourite treats instead.
As one of South East Asia’s largest wildlife sanctuaries, WFFT has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wildlife for over two decades. The centre offers a forever home for those sadly unable to return to the wild, and currently cares for over 800 animals across its 200-acres of forested land.
Included in the images are rescued animals:
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Gan Da, the Asian elephant, rescued from the trekking industry back in 2017. PIcking up the pumpkin with her trunk, she wasted no time munching down the treat in one go.
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Maruay, a Bengal tiger, rescued from Phuket Zoo last year. He carefully lifted the lid off the carved pumpkin with his teeth to reach the tasty snacks inside.
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Mee Mee, a Bengal tiger, rescued from Phuket Zoo last year. She didn’t hold back and playfully destroyed the pumpkin.
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Pick and Nick, male white-handed gibbons, both orphans and rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. They had a different reaction – they actually seemed a little scared of the pumpkin and examined it very carefully!
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Nu Deng, a long-tailed macaque rescued from the pet trade. This “cheeky monkey” quickly picked the pumpkin up and ran away from her troop to keep the treat all to herself.
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Pablo and Max are common marmosets rescued from the pet trade.
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Olé the cow, who was rescued as a calf after being attacked and permanently scarred by a pack of dogs.
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Otters, including Ozzy and Julia. They enjoyed a pumpkin carved out and filled with fish.
About Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT)
WFFT is one of South East Asia’s largest animal sanctuaries and cares for over 800 animals. The sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates wild animals, and offers a forever home to those who cannot safely be returned to the wild. The sanctuary is currently home to over 60 species of animals, including 24 elephants, 9 tigers, and over 300 primates. The charity also focuses on raising awareness of wildlife conservation and animal exploitation by educating tourists and local communities on the urgent issues facing animals today.
