Phuket Protects Island Animals

Phuket Protects Island Animals

Animal lovers visiting Phuket can take part in a ‘Phuket Night Run for the Gibbons’, reported The Phuket News. While the island is already home to a selection of fascinating attractions and destinations for animal lovers, holidaymakers join this fun event, which will raise money to support the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project in Pa Khlok, Thalong.

The occasion encompasses a ‘night walk’, a fun run and a mini night marathon. It will be held from 10:30pm on Saturday 17^th February. The start and finish point for each of the events will be from Limelight Avenue, on Dibuk Road in Phuket Town.

According to the island’s vice governor, taking part in an event held after dark will offer visitors an unusual and memorable experience. “Especially [as the event will take place] during the Chinese New Year Festival when Phuket Town will be full of colourful decorations. Another different thing is that the participants will not only enjoy running while seeing the Phuket Old Town, but also have a chance to donate money to the charity.”

People interested in taking part in the run can register on www.phuketnightrun.com. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page: Phuket Night Run 2018. The course for the night walk measures 3.2km in total, and has a registration fee of THB350 (US$11). The 5.4km night run has a registration fee of THB400 (US$13), while the mini 10.6km night run has a registration fee of THB450 (US$14). THB50 from each registration will be donated to the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.

In addition to the island’s Gibbon Rehabilitation project, the recently established elephant sanctuary has become a popular hub for animal lovers exploring Phuket. Since it opened in 2016, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary has become a leading example of a new wave of ethical elephant attractions in Thailand. The park provides a safe haven for creatures that have been mistreated and rescued from exploitative homes. Money raised by the sanctuary also provides food, care and medicine for the pachyderms. The 30-acre site is now home to five elephants, three of which were rescued in December 2017.

“What amazes me is that we have taken these elephants, some in their 60s, which have spent their entire lives in servitude to man, and they have recovered so quickly,” says Louise Rogerson, co-founder of the sanctuary, in a report published by CNN. “Elephants are emotional animals, they feel happiness, sadness and show love, and here we allow them to be themselves again, unafraid.”

There are daily tours for visitors, who can watch the beautiful creatures as they roam freely in their natural environments. There is also a chance to walk with the elephants, and feed them, too.