Gibbons in Phuket and More
September 8, 2007
Because I am a huge fan of the beach there is hardly a day that goes by when I don’t think about it, usually in connection with one of the islands of Thailand. Today I came across an article in the Bangkok Post about Phuket that I wanted to share with eveyone.
If you’re like me you think of sand, surf, sunshine and possibly sex when you hear or read Phuket, but as the article I read pointed out Phuket has much more to offer. The natural beauty of this island still sparkles once you get outside the heavily touristed and commercialized areas such as Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Specifically, this article talked about Khao Phra Thaeo which is a wildlife sanctuary in the northeast of Phuket.
Khao Phra Thaeo is said to take up 22 square kilometers and contains the highest peak on Phuket at 384 meters above sea level. At one time the wildlife of Khao Phra Thaeo was severly depleted, but it has been on an upswing since 1969 when the area was designated as a wildlife preserve. It is now home to wild boar, pangolin, civet, leopard cat, gibbon and birds such as fairy bluebird, blue-winged pitta and oriental white-eye. Most important is the rehabilitation facility for gibbons located here which tracks down gibbons that are in captivity, rescues them and then prepares them to be released back into the wild.
Since the facility was established in 1992 they have released around 60 gibbons back into the wild. Prior to that gibbons were almost completely gone from the forest here due to their capture to be put on display, mostly in pubs where they would be taught to smoke, drink and otherwise entertain the pubsters.
If you go to visit Khao Phra Thaeo you can help the gibbons through donations, by adopting a gibbon or by buying some of the products on sale such as t-shirts and sketches. I think next time I’m back on Phuket I’ll be adopting a gibbon and I’ll call him George 
They really are very cute little critters.
Near by the gibbon facility you’ll find Bang Pae Waterfall which offers a really nice chance to cool off in it’s pools. The waterfall itself has water year round so you won’t find it dry like other waterfalls around Thailand. Bang Pae Waterfall is around 36 feet (12 meters) high and presents quite a sight not to be missed.
This is just one small area of a wonderful island paradise called Phuket. Next time you’re there take some time away from the beaches, nightlife and clubs and get back to the more natural side of Phuket. If anyone else knows about good places to visit on Phuket I’d love to hear about them.
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