Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife

The Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife (LCTW) are a small but growing NGO based in Laos. The mission of our Center is not only to rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife, but to educate the Lao people in hopes to grow a passion for conservation among our guests! 

LCTW runs Laos' only wildlife rescue hotline where local people and tourists can call 1601 or message us on Facebook to report wildlife crime they see or other wildlife that may be in need of our help! Our center works closely with the Lao government to confiscate animals from the illegal wildlife trade in hopes to release animals back into the forest wherever possible.

As the popularity of LCTW has grown we are now receiving more tip-offs including each of the 6 species of gibbons found in Laos!

New Chapter

In early 2023 we received the devastating news that we were being evicted from our land, which was based at the old Lao Zoo. In just 18 short months, we had to find new land, and design, build, and move into a new site, bringing all our 200+ animals with us!

Despite having such a short space of time to accomplish all this, we wanted to use this opportunity to go above and beyond to ensure our animals receive the best standard of welfare for their rehabilitation with us. Our four brand new, custom designed enclosures are each around 80m2, and act as perfect "soft release" enclosures, enabling our gibbons to fully display all of their natural behaviours, including brachiating, foraging and socializing. 

Our impressive gibbon enclosure at our main entrance is fully immersive, allowing gibbons to swing right over visitors heads, and climb down the fake tree structure allowing for face-face viewing with no mesh or glass barriers. The only enclosure of its kind within South-East Asia, we are hoping this unique design inspires a love and a desire to protect these precious creatures in their natural habitat.

One of our gibbons swinging freely in their new pre-release enclosures, overlooking big buddhaOur new Immersive Gibbon Enclosure, allowing gibbons to swing right over visitors heads!

Incoming Rescues

Despite our big move, we have been busier than ever with rescues, and have already taken in 4 new gibbons this year - all thought to be the Critically Endangered Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon. 

Our funds have now ran out to build any new enclosures, and our current enclosures are full. We want to continue to be able to rescue any gibbon in need within Laos, but to do that, we need your help!

Sombad's Story

In March this year we received a tip off on our wildlife hotline that someone was illegally keeping a young gibbon in the South of Laos. We reported this to the Government and were delighted when we got the call to say he had been confiscated and we could go and collect him. The next day our team set off on the long 15 hour (each way!) drive for his rescue. We immediately removed his chain and pink dress that we was forced to wear, in the first steps to him becoming free! We chose the name "Sombad" which means Treasure in Lao.

He quickly settled in at our site, and has since been learning how to act like a gibbon, in the first steps of his long, 5+ year rehabilitation process before he will be suitable for release. He was so young he still needed milk feeding through the night at first, but now he is growing into an independent and funny young gibbon, and is a firm favourite at LCTW! We have been carefully supervising sessions with him where he can observe and interact with other, older gibbons at the center, allowing him the chance to learn natural behaviours including their famous song!

Original Report from MarchHaving his chain and dress removed on arrivalLearning how to be a Gibbon in AprilSombad Making Friends

Upcoming Releases

We have two gibbons nearing the appropriate age for release. Sunny Day (coming from the word for "Gibbon" in Thai), and Ped Noi (meaning Little spicy, due to her personality!) have bonded together and are nearly ready for the next part of their journey. As soon as Ped Noi hits sexual maturity (we will know because her coat will change to a cream colour), the pair will be ready for release, after being accustomed to living "wild" in their new pre-release enclosures. 

When we release these two (in roughly a years time), we would love to fit them with GPS trackers so we can study their movements and keep an eye on their safety. Your donations could allow us to purchase these trackers to fulfill our ultimate aim of following their journey right from report - rescue - rehabilitation - release - research!!

Ped Noi & Sunny Day

So make sure to donate TODAY and help us rescue these "not so lesser" apes from the brink of extinction and educate Lao people on their importance!

donate today!