Primates Thailand is one of the most complex and distressing conservation stories in Southeast Asia — and one of the most powerful encounters on the Dragon Study Tours Elephant Conservation Experience programme. At Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand near Phetchaburi, closed groups aged 13 to 17 encounter over 250 primates rescued from the illegal pet trade, entertainment industry, and coconut farming operations. Running all year round, the WFFT full day brings participants face to face with the individual consequences of wildlife exploitation in a way that changes how they see the world.
The Primates Thailand at WFFT: Who They Are
WFFT cares for more than 250 primates of multiple species — making it one of the largest primate rescue operations in Southeast Asia. The primates Thailand at WFFT include long-tailed macaques, pig-tailed macaques, stump-tailed macaques, gibbons, slow lorises, and other species, each with a story that begins in exploitation and ends, ideally, in recovery.
Long-tailed macaques are one of the most commonly trafficked primates in Southeast Asia. Pig-tailed macaques face a specific and relatively little-known form of exploitation in Thailand — they are caught from the wild, chained, and trained to climb coconut palms and harvest coconuts for the commercial coconut industry. WFFT is currently leading a major campaign to end this practice. Gibbons are taken from the wild as infants — their mothers killed — to be sold as entertainment animals or pets at tourist resorts across Thailand and Southeast Asia.
What Participants Learn From the Primates Thailand at WFFT
When participants spend their full day at WFFT, the primates Thailand are among the most affecting encounters of the day. They assist with feeding rounds across the primate enclosures — providing the varied diet of fruits, vegetables, and protein that different primate species require. They support habitat enrichment activities. And they receive a detailed education session on the illegal primate trade, the specific exploitation that has brought each species to WFFT, and what rehabilitation looks like for animals that have spent their formative years in captivity.
The Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand identifies wildlife trafficking as one of the most significant threats to Thailand’s biodiversity. The primates Thailand at WFFT are the direct, individual consequence of that trafficking — and participants spend a full day working alongside the people addressing it.
The Primates Thailand Release Programme
Not all primates Thailand at WFFT are permanent residents. Some animals — particularly those that arrive young and in reasonably good health — can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Participants on the WFFT full day have the opportunity to observe the release preparation process, learning what rehabilitation looks like in practice and understanding why some animals can return to the wild while others must remain in the sanctuary for life.
Safety at the Primates Thailand WFFT Session
All aspects of the WFFT full day are managed within the full Dragon Study Tours safety framework. Transport is by private air-conditioned coach. WFFT follows a strict hands-off protocol for all animals. The Palm Residence provides 24/7 supervision and safeguarding procedures aligned to British Council accreditation standards.
The programme runs all year round for closed groups. Visit our 50 things to do in Hua Hin guide, request a quote, make a booking, or read our FAQ.
