WARN Asia Conference 2025

From orangutan rehabilitation in Sabah to sharing ideas with experts across Asia, Orangutan Appeal UK’s team took part in the 2025 WARN Asia Conference to strengthen wildlife rescue and conservation networks across the region.

The conference, held in Hua Hin, Thailand and hosted by the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), was the largest in WARN Asia’s history, bringing together nearly 100 participants from 20 countries to share knowledge and collaborate on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

Orangutan Appeal UK funded attendance for Lineker (Supervisor), Jonrey (Education Officer), Rico (Enrichment Coordinator), and Sabah Wildlife Department’s Dr Nabila, Head Vet at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Over three days, they attended presentations, workshops and discussions covering practical solutions for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and protection, while exchanging expertise with NGOs, government staff and field teams from across the region.

They were also able to attend the post-conference tour of WFFT’s rescue centre on 13 November, where the team observed first-hand the impact of rehabilitation work on rescued animals in Thailand.

Attending WARN Asia enabled our team to bring back new ideas, strengthen networks, and ensure that Orangutan Appeal UK’s work in Sabah continues to meet regional standards of wildlife care. By connecting with partners across Asia, we are better equipped to protect endangered species, improve rescue outcomes, and share knowledge that benefits both animals and communities.