Asia for Animals Sanctuaries and Rescue Centers Coalition (SARCC) and Macaque Coalition (MACC) coordinator, Koh Jieh Long, attended the Wild Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Conference 2024, which took place in Luang Prabang, Laos, from October 21-23. In this blog, he reflects on his experience at the conference.
The WARN conference this year was hosted by Free The Bears, with the theme “Successful partnerships lead to positive outcomes for wildlife”. I had the honor of representing the Asia for Animals Coalition (AfA) to give a presentation demonstrating how AfA fosters and maintains connections among wildlife organizations. The presentation first gave an overview of the AfA Coalition before introducing the work of a few AfA working groups that deal directly with wildlife-related issues, including the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC), MACC, and SARCC. Then, I gave some examples of how each of these AfA working groups facilitates collaborations and serves as the central point of contact for guidance and support that help organizations to protect wildlife.
Over 60 delegates from 30 organizations representing 15 countries participated in the three-day conference, which was filled with inspiring stories of partnerships for wildlife. Each organization’s delegates shared their work and showed off the partnerships they have built over time. There was a clear sense of pride as each speaker stood at the podium and spoke about collaboration. They know, the “bear-eat-bear world” narrative is outdated in modern society. Everyone can agree that cooperation is the sustainable way forward for making real, positive impacts in wildlife conservation and advocacy.
Due to the tight schedule, the conference couldn’t afford a question-and-answer session after each presentation. However, an encouraging phenomenon was seen as participants invariably gathered around speakers immediately after their talks or during breaks. One after another stimulating discussions and ideas for future collaboration emerged, as a result.
One of my personal highlights was the panel discussion about euthanasia policy. I applaud WARN for creating a safe space for open dialogue, allowing panelists to share their past experiences and challenges in using euthanasia as an integral part of animal welfare considerations. I was also glad to hear that most rescue centers include the perspectives of caretakers, not only veterinarians and managers, in their decision-making around euthanasia. I look forward to more honest conversations on topics facing animal welfare and conservation that may be sensitive or controversial but are essential to discuss and is possible because of a platform like this.
WARN is a tight-knit network that fosters strong bonds among colleagues. This camaraderie makes working within the wildlife rescue space more manageable—life becomes less of a burden when there are people who understand the struggles. Like when I received overwhelming support and words of encouragement from colleagues that I had just met at the conference when it was my turn to give the presentation. The “happy people, happy animals” principle, fostered by Heidi Quine - Country Director of Animals Asia Foundation, holds true across all roles in a wildlife rescue team, from caretakers to managers. Having a support system that maintains a kind and inclusive culture is important in this line of work.
On day four, we had the privilege to follow the Free the Bears team on a post-conference tour to the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary. The team that acted as a tour guide for the day was enthusiastic about answering all questions, which I was very grateful for. I was even more excited to have learned about Free the Bears’ innovative ways of preparing the bears for release into the wild. By the end, participants left the facility feeling hopeful and heartened after seeing the happy faces of rescued animals and the holistic care they receive at the center.
Leaving the conference, I feel more motivated to keep building on the relationships among those dedicated to saving wildlife. It’s clear that together, we are stronger and better equipped to face the challenges in wildlife conservation. I am dedicated to ensuring the connections stay alive after the conference and we will come back to WARN next year to announce more successful partnerships and renewed commitment for collaborations in the protection of wild animals. At our core, the AfA Coalition is about building partnerships and catalyzing collaborations for animals across Asia. We all look forward to working with organizations like WARN, Free the Bears, and the participants to building successful partnerships that lead to positive outcomes for wildlife.
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