IPPL News Aug05.indd - International Primate Protection League

Highland Farm Survives Despite Tragedy
Highland Farm is a primate sanctuary close to the
Thai-Burmese border, an area where many tribal people
live. The sanctuary was founded in 1991 by William
(Bill) Deters and his Thai wife Pharanee. The couple
established an organic farm on deforested land. This
farm was a source of food for the gibbons.
In May 2002 a terrible tragedy struck the sanctuary
when a disgruntled former employee murdered Mr.
Deters and the entire animal care staff, including one
staff member’s baby. Mr. Deters’ widow, Pharanee, who
was in Bangkok at the time of the killings, has bravely
continued the sanctuary’s work.
In July 2005 IPPL Secretary Dianne Taylor-
Snow visited Highland Farm after representing our
organization at the Animals Asia conference. Dianne
reports,
It is so beautiful in the highlands. The Highland Farm
gibbons all seem well; there are so many amputees who
brachiate around amazingly well. The animals’ diets are
very good. I can truly say that she [Pharanee] is saving
the lives of gibbons just as they saved her life. She
seriously considered killing herself after Bill’s death.
She went so far as to drive high into the mountains with
the intent of driving off a cliff...then she thought, “Who
would care for the gibbons?” and drove back down the
mountain to begin this new phase of her life.
We had fun together...she said that she hadn’t laughed
so much in a long time. It was easy to be with her. She
is very Thai but, having lived in the U.S. for 21 years,
she is really bi-cultural.
She has four full time local men working “the farm”
and one woman, Khun Nok, who is the manager and
lives in the house with her...Nok only goes home to
Bangkok once a month for four or five days...she is
there 24-7 the rest of the time.
The Arcus Foundation and IPPL have been
contributing to the care of the Highland Farm primates
through annual grants. We hope you enjoy these
photos of the gibbons whose lives been enriched by
Pharanee’s courage and dedication and sustained by
gifts from compassionate people – and organizations
like IPPL.
Top right, Pharanee with a white-cheeked gibbon
orphan; below, a mother white-cheeked gibbon
with her baby, two of Highland Farm’s 30+ resident
gibbons.
——————————————————————— IPPL NEWS
www.ippl.org ———————————————— August 2005
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