Improving animal welfare
RENOVATION PROGRAM AT THE PWRCC (Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center)
Depuis 2022
Palawan Island, Philippines
The main aim of this program is to improve the well-being of captive wild animals in the PWRCC, by renovating old facilities and building new structures that are more adapted to the physiological and behavioral needs of the animals.
# DONE
- Obtaining the necessary authorizations to launch the project.
- Creating a fundraiser on HelloAsso.
- Designing enclosures with the help of a Filipino architect.
- Welcoming the first volunteers.
- Renovating an aviary for eagles.
- Renovation of an aviary for the Luçon parrots.
- Réfection d’une volière pour 5 binturongs.
- Creation of an orchard/vegetable garden.
# ONGOING
- French page: Collecte de dons pour le PWRCC
- English page: Fundraising for the PWRCC
- Refurbishment of a large aviary for religious mynas.
- Renovation of an aviary for the Palawan hornbills.
- Rebuilding the quarantine area.
- Extension of the orchard.
# UPCOMING
- Renovation of aviaries for new eagles or other birds.
- Renovation of the old vivarium.
- Creation of an enclosure for macaques in quarantine.
- Equipping the veterinary clinic with restraint equipment.
The challenge: a rescue center with little financial, human and material resources
The PWRCC, the only wildlife rescue center in Palawan, opened in 1987 in Puerto Princesa. It rescues over 300 animals that were found injured or seized by local authorities every year. Most of them are rehabilitated and eventually released. However, despite all the staff’s efforts, some individuals cannot be released into their natural environment: around 200 animals are currently kept on site. However, the facilities have not changed much since 1987 and they are no longer adapted to the growing number of animals brought to the center. The latter, facing a lack of human, material and financial resources, is unable from to fix these issues: too small aviaries, ageing facilities, unsanitary quarantine area, lack of hygiene and security, lack of medical personnel, inability to provide the right conditions to meet the animals’ physiological needs, etc.
The current enclosure of Ming-Ming, one of the binturongs of the center - Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, Philippines. Credit R. Perrucaud
Goals: improving animal welfare and increasing the chances of rehabilitation
One of our volunteers while renovating - Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, Philippines. Credit R. Gspann
In order to improve the welfare of captive animals and facilitate the center’s efforts in rehabilitation of certain species, ABConservation has signed a partnership with the PWRCC and the local government, with the following objectives:
- Collecting funds to buy the necessary equipment for renovations and to build more suitable enclosures.
- Calling for volunteers from all over the world to provide knowledge in various fields and help the staff with daily tasks and construction work.
- Providing training for the staff on topics such as medical training, enrichment making, etc.
- Improving medical care for injured animals and the welfare of captive animals.
Our action: mobilising financial, material and human resources
Financial resources
This new project relies mainly on the financial support of private individuals. A new fundraising campaign was launched in December 2023. It is available via the following link. Our team is also working on creating partnerships and sponsorships to help purchase of construction material, as well as receiving veterinary equipment donations.
An old eagle aviary currently being renovated - Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, Philippines. Credit A. Debruille
Material resources
With the purchase of material thanks to the fundraiser, it is finally possible for us to enhance the living conditions of some of the residents by improving their enclosures or building new ones that are larger and better adapted to their welfare.
In order to achieve the goals we have set, a list of works and initiatives was created:
- Creating new aviaries for mainates, eagles and hornbills, which are currently held in the quarantine area.
- Creating a large flight aviary for the rehabilitation of birds.
- Creating new enclosures for the civets and macaques that are currently in quarantine.
- Construction of a whole new quarantine area to provide larger spaces for confiscated animals.
- Acquisition of veterinary equipment, including restraint equipment.
- Planting fruit trees, to provide part of the feed for the animals.
- Installation of glass walls in the current reptile area because visitors keep touching the snakes through the fences.
Human resources
After Liezl, who volunteered for 1 year, from 2022 to 2023, Dimitri arrived in October 2023, also for a 1-year civic service. He is dedicating his time to renovating the PWRCC, and can now count on the invaluable help of volunteers from Palawan State University.
In addition, a volunteer program started in October 2019 is still in place, to strengthen support for the care center. Indeed, fundraising and the purchase of building materials is less effective without the help of our invaluable volunteers. This volunteer program enables both professionals and beginners to contribute to bring their help, their knowledge, experience and know-how, which are essential to the smooth running of the work.
Volunteers working - Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, Philippines. Credit R. Perrucaud
Stakeholders in the field: a close collaboration between our volunteers and center staff
This program is the culmination of the friendship between PWRCC and ABConservation, and the determination of our two co-presidents, Pauline Kayser and Agathe Debruille. It could not function without the dedication of PWRCC employees and ABConservation volunteers. A renovation committee was set up in 2022 to meet the growing number of pressing needs. If you also want to help us as a volunteer, you can visit our volunteer page for all the necessary information. There are various missions so you will surely find the one that suits you!
ABConservation
| French Office 57 rue Cuvier MNHN CP31 75005 Paris France | Pablico Road 1 Barangay Tiniguiban 5300 Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines |
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