Ecovolunteer nature travel : help in a gibbon project in Thailand. The Gibbon Project was established in 1992 with the aim of confiscating and rescuing gibbons being illegally kept in situations of exploitation and abuse and releasing them back into the Phuket forest. These where uncharted waters and it quickly became apparent that the majority of gibbons arriving at the sanctuary where totally incapable of being rehabilitated; the human imprint having destroyed all but their very basic natural instincts and behavioral patterns. Also many gibbons appeared to have been infected with some viruses; although these viruses are lying dormant, we do not want these gibbons to be released back into the wild. This has meant a long-term stay at our sanctuary for the majority of gibbons. Monitoring has however established that there are a few suitable for rehabilitation and eventual release and these animals become involved in the rehabilitation process. This can take up to two years to complete and involves the gibbon slowly losing all contact and dependence on humans. When this is achieved the release take place in an area where the staff and volunteers from the sanctuary can undertake continual observation of the animal and it’s behaviour. gibbon rehabilitation center, primates, lesser apes, hylobatidae, hylobates lar, white-handed gibbon, phuket thailand, khao phra thaew national park, bang prae waterfall, thai royal forestry department, wild animal rescue foundation thailand, primate rescue, gibbon reintroduction, nature travel, ecotourism