Sumatra Wildlife Center

A dream come true

With the purchase of 7,000 m² of land in Kalianda, a dream came true for the people behind Wildlife Watchdogs. In the Sumatra Wildlife Center we can temporarily take care of all animal species. The new center is located along the main smuggling route and close to the port where the animals are illegally transported to Java.

The construction of the Sumatra Wildlife Center shelter is progressing steadily. Dozens of animals are already staying in the new animal enclosures. Hundreds of animals have already been cared for, rehabilitated and released back to the Sumatran pristine forests. The local staff used to sleep in the open air, but now have their own simple, traditional accommodation with basic facilities such as water, electricity and sewerage. In 2019, our clinic has been built and we continuously strive to find support to improve the medical facilities and expand medical tools and equipment. This allows us to provide the best veterinary care for confiscated wildlife.

We expect the unexpected

In the center we always expect the unexpected. For example, we recently welcomed 450 rescued cockatoos and previously hundreds of turtles. If that happens, we immediately have to provide for basic, tailor-made facilities such as enclosures, food and medical assistance. As soon as the animals are ready, we release them into the wild. We need transport enclosures for that. Over the past 15 years we have learned to improvise well to give the animals the best possible care.

The new center is full of specialist knowledge about wild animals. We will soon be opening an education center to contribute to the development of the local population. Here we teach, among other things, the disastrous consequences of deforestation, the abuse of dancing monkeys, elephant rides, cuddling with tigers and the cruelty behind dolphin shows.

Self-sufficient center

Wildlife Watchdogs is still looking for 3000 m² of land to grow fruit and vegetables. This way the center can be self-sufficient. After the realization of the field, we would also like to teach the local population how to grow food in a sustainable way. This land cannot be on the same site of the rescue center because it costs a lot of manpower. We prepare animals to go back to their natural habitat. That is why we minimize the contact: on the contrary, they have to alienate themselves from humans.