Animal Rescue Thailand: An Educational Visit or Working Holiday in Hua Hin

[HD video below] Just a few days after a two-month old Tiger cub was found sedated in the luggage of a Thai woman departing from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the welfare, exploitation and wellbeing of animals is again in the international spotlight.

In Thailand, it is a common sight to see elephants roaming the streets with their mahouts encouraging tourists - Thais and foreigners alike - to have a picture taken with the animal, or to purchase a little food to feed it with.

 And, it is not just majestic elephants that are subject to such exploitation. Wander the night spots of Bangkok and the impressive islands around Thailand, and you are more than likely see to exotic snakes, monkeys, lizards and other animals being treated the same way.

Sure, it makes for a nice picture, but the animals are often drugged, kept in extremely poor and unnatural conditions, and the simple gesture of giving a few Baht to hold the animal, have your picture taken with it, only helps to make the cruelty and exploitation that these animals suffer even worse.

The best thing to do is not become part of the problem, and simply ignore the temptation to give money, feed or touch the animal.

On a recent trip to Hua Hin, Thailand, better known for its good seafood and nice beaches than animal rescue, TravelNewsAsia.com had the opportunity to visit the Wildlife Friends Rescue Center and talk with Edwin Wiek, the Founder & Director, of the project.

In the HD video below, Edwin talks of animal exploitation in Thailand, where the animals at his rescue center come from, why it is free for people to visit on an educational day-tour, how they can get to the centre, and how much of the project, which is expanding rapidly, is funded by volunteers from around the world who visit and stay in Thailand for a few weeks to a few months working at the center taking care of the animals.

As you will see in the video, the center already has a large variety of monkeys, bears, birds and even a very large crocodile and an injured tiger.

It is heart-breaking to see the cruelty that has been inflicted on some of these truly magnificent animals, and yet, it is also heart-warming to see that there are people such as Edwin and the hundreds of volunteers who pay to stay and work at the centre giving their time, blood and sweat to make a difference for their future.

HD Video about the Animal Rescue Center in Hua Hin, Thailand

If you would like to support the foundation and its honorable work, then please visit their website.

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