in Thailand and another rescue center
in Laos, it is like living the dream, and
things are still to get even better. We
keep on dreaming.
HOT Magazine: What vision for
the future do you have in regard to the
Wildlife Friends Foundations, what steps
do you want it to have taken in say, ten
years’ time?
Edwin Wiek: Since early 2015 we have
been working in Laos setting up a large
rescue center, this is a big challenge but
we are hopeful that it will be a success.
With over 700 animals there already we
need all the help we can get, to upgrade
and rebuild many old zoo facilities, and
continue with setting up a world class
wildlife rescue facility in Laos. At the
same time we are building a state of
the art elephant hospital in Petchburi,
Thailand, not far from Hua Hin. Along
with the current pachyderms at WFFT
we hope to start treating blind and other
elephants in need from tourist camps
within 2016. We hope to also start a
wildlife rescue facility in Burma by 2017,
so many things to do!
HOT Magazine: What feelings do the
news of mistreated animals, be it because
of the value of their bodies or because
of the taboo associated to them evoke in
you?
Edwin Wiek: The first few years I
used to get furious at people mistreating
animals, arriving at a rescue site I would
witness animals housed in small and
dirty enclosures or restrained with
a very tight chain, in some cases the
animal had spend up to 20 years in
solitary confinement. After a few years
I found that showing my emotions in
front of these “owners” did not really
help my cause, some were oblivious
to the treatment (read torture) they
provided to the animal, in some cases
not even wanting a better life for their
‘beloved’ pet. Nowadays I am friendly,
understanding and diplomatic to the
people who keep these wild animals and
I will not show my feelings. I do whisper
and apologize into the ear of the animal
and tell them that from this day on all is
going to get better!
HOT Magazine: What message
would you like to broadcast to our
readers in relation to this? How can
each person do their part to prevent this
directly or indirectly?
Edwin Wiek: First of all do remember
that if it is considered illegal or unethical
in your country it probably is here too. I
mean here in particular the exploitation
and/or consumption of wildlife, tigers
or elephants and many other species is
very common. When you see animals in
a very bad condition at a camp or zoo
that you visit and paid an entrance for,
you are supporting this exploitation.
Thailand has plenty of fascinating wild
animal species living within its National
parks, so if tourists or residents wish to
see elephants or other wildlife, the best
way is to visit these national parks and
see these animals free in their natural
habitat.
HOT Magazine: We end with two
quotes from one of the more outspoken
animal rights activists of the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries: “There are
no wild animals until man makes them
so” said Mark Twain. How do you feel
about this quote?
Edwin Wiek: Well actually all
animals were wild, until we tortured and
tamed some.
HOT Magazine: “The more I learn
about people, the more I like my
dog”. Do you have hope for a world
in which humans are able to renounce
their selfishness and cruelty and start
respecting the livelihood and individual
rights of all animals? What do you think
Twain would say were he alive today?
Edwin Wiek: With this one I can
associate! We humans might be the most
intelligent of all species on earth, but at
the same time we are complicated, full of
politics and sometimes straight-out evil.
Dogs are there for you at all times, happy
when you return home, even when you
have left them for weeks!
If you would like more information
on the Wildlife Friends Foundation, or if
you would like to volunteer or donate,
visit their website, www.wfft.org.
October 15 - November 15 , 2015
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