Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning gibbons to the wild since 1992. According to the project, gibbons were poached to extinction on Phuket some four decades ago, and many of the animals it takes in were kept as pets or used as props for tourist photographs. It is run by the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand, a registered charity. Its rehabilitation site and education centre sit inside the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, more than 20 square kilometres of rainforest in the north of the island, close to Bang Pae Waterfall.

Visits are by booked learning session only, rather than drop-in sightseeing. The standard one-hour programme runs at fixed times during the day, and a longer two-and-a-half-hour morning programme is also offered. During the sessions, visitors learn about the gibbons, the pet and photo trade that threatens them, and the work of rehabilitation. Visitors may see some of the gibbons that cannot be released into the wild, while those being prepared for release are kept away from people, because the aim is to limit human contact.

Group sizes are kept small, with a daily limit on visitor numbers, so book ahead through the project's website, especially in high season. On days with no bookings, there are no staff on site. Between June and September the schedule is reduced, and the project asks visitors to get in touch to request a date. This is a quiet, educational visit rather than an animal encounter, which makes it a good fit for families with curious children, students and anyone interested in conservation.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring insect repellent, as the centre is in the forest and paths can be damp after rain. Combine the session with a look at Bang Pae Waterfall next to the centre. The surrounding Khao Phra Thaeo forest includes some of the island's highest hills, rising to over 400 metres, and is a welcome change from the beaches.

The project is in Thalang District, inland from the east coast near Pa Klok, and is most easily reached by car, taxi or motorbike; from the Bang Pae Waterfall sign it is about a kilometre to the park entrance. A visit fits well with a morning on the quieter north and east of the island, or with time at the nearby Thalang area before heading on to Sirinat National Park and the airport beaches.