Highland Farm and Gibbon Refuge Wildlife Reserve

This foundation for gibbon and wildlife preservation occupies a large site just off Highway 1090 between Mae Sot and Umphang, working with rescued gibbons and other primates that come from a background of abuse and mistreatment. It was founded by a Thai-American couple in the early 1990s, starting out as a simple retirement plan when the two bought 35 acres of stripped land in the highlands and set about reforesting it. The first gibbon was rescued after her mother was shot by a hunter, and the project has grown exponentially since.

Today Highland Farm has an army of rescued animals that includes over 60 gibbons, a bear, jackals, geese, peacocks, turtles and many others. The primates live out the rest of their lives on the compound, as they are unable to forage or adapt to a wild environment. The distinctive whooping of the gibbons echoes around the enclosure, and despite being caged these creatures seem genuinely content, perhaps because they have lots of friends to play with.

Visiting and helping. Everybody is welcome to have a look around during regular business hours, and no fee is collected, though many visitors are moved to help in some way. One option is to adopt a specific gibbon, or to have a complete enclosure built and outfitted with a plaque acknowledging the donor. A recent addition is a small clinic for treating sick animals.

Staying and volunteering. Minimum three-day home-stays are possible, and Highland Farm also welcomes long-term volunteers. This requires a stay of at least one month and can be tailored to the volunteer’s skills. There is plenty of routine work to help with, but the centre also receives visits from academics and students carrying out research.