Over the past month, the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary has been extremely busy with multiple rescue missions and a release expedition. From turtles and binturongs to macaques and more, the staff have had their hands full, alongside caring for all the resident animals at the sanctuary around the clock!
MARKET MACAQUES
Sadly, macaques are common victims of the illegal wildlife trade in Laos and are often spotted at markets sitting as merchandise, solemnly waiting to be sold off as food or as pets. Three macaques now living at the sanctuary were awaiting this fate before lucky interventions, the first rescue being a tiny stump-tailed macaque undertaken by a well-meaning couple. After stumbling across a baby macaque at a market stall, the couple purchased her to save her from being eaten. They cared for her for some months before they heard of the sanctuary and contacted them to give her the best life possible.
Although she had been hand-reared for a few months, it was clear that she needed to be with other members of her species. After being introduced to a troop of stump-tailed macaques at the sanctuary, she was quickly adopted by one of the females who became her foster mother. This tiny macaque integrated into the troop very well and is often seen interacting with the others. Whist she may have been intended to be a meal, she is now living her destined life as a macaque!
** PLEASE NOTE - We never recommend purchasing wildlife, even with good intentions, as this perpetuates the illegal trade. Please contact a local wildlife authority or sanctuary if you happen across markets selling wildlife.
A few short weeks later, a further two macaques were confiscated by park rangers from another market. Sadly, these baby macaques were being sold off as pets after their troop members were shot and killed for bushmeat. The larger macaque of the two still had a small bullet lodged in his rear upon rescue. The incredible veterinary team were on hand, ready to help with his injury and rehabilitate him so that he can integrate with a new troop at the sanctuary along with the other rescue.
LITTLE LANGUR
For this Laotian langur, a lucky break came when a member of a village security team intercepted her potential sale. The security member was quick to take action and contacted the Khammouane Provincial Office of Forestry Inspection who contacted the sanctuary immediately. The rescue team jumped into action and embarked on a 6-hour drive to secure her safety. She is now in the safe hands of the sanctuary, and as a member of an endemic and endangered species, her future potential release back into the wild should contribute to the species survival.
READY, SET, RELEASE
Releasing animals back into the wild is never a simple task and requires extensive planning from the sanctuary and rangers from the national park. The results are always worth the effort though as reflected in last weeks release. After a long journey for both animals and staff alike, the team successfully released two leopard cats, a large Indian civet, an Asian barred owlet, an impressed tortoise and a critically endangered big-headed turtle.
Join us in thanking the members of the public and the incredible staff and volunteers of the Laos Wildlife Sanctuary that made these rescues and the release possible!
