Gibbons in Need

My name is Mrs. Phoranee Chotiros/Deters. I live in remote area of Mae Sot province in Thailand. In 1991, my husband Bill and I moved here to retire and have a ‘quiet’ life. Shortly after, a hunter came with a baby gibbon, looking to sell it. We had no idea about gibbons, we bought ‘Chester’, and there began our unexpected second life, rescuing and caring for gibbons and other creatures in need. It has become our full-time job for the last 29-years.

Sadly, in 2002, my husband passed away suddenly, leaving me to continue our work, and I established the ‘William E. Deters Foundation Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Project’ to honor him, also known as Highland Farm . 

A team of six persons, including myself, care for our ‘kids’ as we call them, preparing meals, cleaning enclosures, and doing the many other things required to keep our sanctuary’s residents happy and healthy. They currently consist of 70 Gibbons, 22 Monkeys, 1 Asiatic Black Bear, 1 Binturong, 2 Short Nails Fresh Water Otters, 6 Peacocks, 2 Pheasants, 6 Dogs and 4 Cats.

We pay for operations using my personal savings, some donations, and our main source of revenue is fees from volunteers who come from around the world to stay with us, learn about our ‘kids’, and assist. Since COVID-19 emerged here in early February, there have been no volunteers, and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future, leaving us without sufficient operating funds. It is for this reason we seek your financial assistance.

Total monthly operating expenses are about CDN$4,200.
Food is about CDN$1,700/month and wages for caretakers is CDN$2,500.
I will continue to cover electricity and maintenance costs on my own.
My longtime friend, Scott Coates, a Canadian who has been living in Thailand since 1999 is helping me raise funds through this platform.

Thank you very much in advance for helping us reach our goal of CDN$29,400, which will cover these costs for 7-months, through this period with no volunteers, and keep our ‘kids’ fed, happy and healthy,

You can learn more about us on our website : https://www.gibbonathighlandfarm.org/en/

Kindest Regards and Thanks,

Phoranee Chotiros/Deters