We’re delighted to share with you the news that in 2022, EIA and the Marsh Charitable Trust have started a new partnership to celebrate the contributions of EIA volunteers, local partners or staff from outside the UK.
This year’s inaugural Marsh Award for Wildlife Conservation is in recognition of the extraordinary work of our friends at the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT). The £1,000 award will be presented in July by the Marsh Charitable Trust.
Following on from a successful grant making relationship, dating back to 2013, we are pleased to be partnering with the EIA in a new venture through the Marsh Award for Wildlife Conservation, to recognise individuals and teams working on a grassroots level in their communities around the world to tackle wildlife crime. Our inaugural winners, the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand, are a prime example of this important work and the outstanding contributions they make to this prevalent global issue. We look forward to recognising more examples such as this in the years to come
WFFT is a partner in a regional project with EIA and Education for Nature Vietnam. It is saving tigers by leading on the documentation of no less than 54 facilities across Thailand that between them house over 1900 tigers.
Rescued tiger veterinary care ©WFFT
As a wildlife rescue centre, WFFT have been asked to step in and take care of tigers from the Phuket Zoo, which has recently gone bankrupt. The 11 tigers had been housed in terrible conditions at the “zoo”, and WFFT are in the process of transferring them to their enclosures where the animals will enjoy lifetime care in more spacious enclosures with outdoor areas, good nutrition, veterinary care and peace.
A lifetime of extreme cruelty ©WFFT
The Phuket Zoo, now permanently closed, was founded as a private zoo in 1997. The zoo had been embroiled in controversy over its lack of animal welfare standards and allegations of extreme cruelty to animals. When we say ‘Don’t pose with tigers’ we mean it!
Pin could barely stand and was clearly in pain every time she tried to get up. Unfortunately, having suffered a lifetime of cruelty, not even the love and expert care she received at WFFT was enough to help her recover. She passed away at the end of April. But other tigers rescued so far are flourishing and there are more to come.
On behalf of everyone at EIA and local partners, huge thanks to the trustees of the Marsh Charitable Trust for your loyal support since 2013.