ACRES And Lao Zoo Establish First Wildlife Rescue And Education Centre In Vientiane, Lao PDR

PRESS RELEASE

28 March 2012

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ACRES AND LAO ZOO ESTABLISH FIRST WILDLIFE RESCUE AND EDUCATION CENTRE IN VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

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VIENTIANE, LAO PDR, 28 March 2012 � ACRES is delighted to announce the establishment of the first Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre in Vientiane, Lao PDR. ACRES signed a landmark MOU with the Lao Zoo today in a ceremony in Lao PDR, witnessed by H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Lao PDR and Mr. K Shanmugam, Singapore�s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minster for Law.

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�I am delighted to have witnessed the MOU signing between the Lao Zoo and Singaporean charity ACRES. The Bear and Wildlife Protection Programme under the MOU is a timely initiative. Wildlife and environmental conservation is an increasingly important issue, so the joint effort is very encouraging" said Minister Shanmugam.

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Lao PDR is notable for its remarkably intact biodiversity and boasts one of the least disturbed ecosystems in Asia. This rich biodiversity is of vital importance to its national economy, people's livelihoods, and continued environmental sustainability.

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Lao PDR's biodiversity is, however, under threat and Lao PDR has now emerged as a source country in Asia�s illicit wildlife trade. This trade is taking a heavy toll on its wildlife. If left unchecked, current trends in the illegal trade will result in biodiversity and economic loss.

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The ACRES Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre (AWREC), a project also in collaboration with the Love Wildlife Foundation, will provide sanctuary to animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. The 5-hectare AWREC will focus primarily on rescuing bears, but it will also house other species of wild animal.

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Most importantly, the AWREC will serve as a landmark educational facility in Lao PDR, to create much-needed awareness on the wildlife trade, environmental protection and a host of animal protection issues. The onsite Education Centre will consist of exhibits on a variety of animal protection issues and educational talks, skits and performances will be held at the Auditorium.

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Through education programmes at the AWREC, ACRES will reach out to the hearts and minds of people of all ages, creating awareness and also inspiring people to make a difference for animals and for the community at large.

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As part of the MOU, ACRES will also be providing technical assistance for the operation and management of the Lao Zoo. ACRES will help to improve the welfare of animals in the Lao Zoo, and Love Wildlife Foundation will focus on increasing its education outreach potential.

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A new Wildlife Crime and Rescue Hotline will also be set up to help combat the illegal wildlife trade. The hotline, similar to those in Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, will provide an avenue for those who know of anyone who buys, owns or trades in protected species, to blow the whistle on these wildlife traders and buyers.

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ACRES and the Lao Zoo will work in close collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Department of Forestry Conservation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for all project activities.

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�I am confident that our partnership with the Lao Zoo and Lao government will strengthen the bilateral ties between Singapore and Lao PDR and help curb the illegal wildlife trade. We will be hiring at least 24 Laotian members of staff to work with our Singapore team. This partnership will undoubtedly benefit not just the animals, but more importantly the Lao PDR community� said Mr. Louis Ng, Executive Director of ACRES.

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�We look forward to working with ACRES to build on the success and achievements of Lao Zoo. Since 1994, we have been serving the Lao community in partnership with the Ministry of Defense in areas of environmental and wildlife protection which is aligned with the goals and objectives of ACRES� said Mdm. Somvang Kiasrithanakorn, Managing Director of Lao Zoo.

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ACRES is the first animal welfare NGO in Singapore to go international.

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Contact:

Louis Ng (Executive Director, ACRES)��

Email: louis@acres.org.sg��

Tel (O): +65 6892 9821 �

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- Ends -

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Notes to editors

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Video footage and photographs of the MOU signing ceremony and bears are available on request.The project objectives are: Provide technical assistance for the operation and management of the Lao Zoo.Work on phasing out bear farming and curb the wildlife trade in Lao PDR.Build and provide a state-of-the-art rescue facility where rescued bears and animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade can be housed and cared for.Build and provide an educational facility for members of the public, to create awareness about animal protection issues and provide opportunities to learn about wildlife biology, especially for students.Promote a caring and compassionate society by serving as a platform to promote volunteerism in Lao PDR.Assist the enforcement efforts of the Lao PDR government in tackling the illegal wildlife trade and implementing the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Lao PDR is a party to. Contribute to the economic growth and social progress in Lao PDR.The ACRES Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre will consist of: Two open-air electric-fenced enclosures for the bears. One Animal Hospital. One Quarantine Building.One Quarantine Animal Kitchen. One General Animal Kitchen.One Education Centre, one Auditorium and one Outdoor Conservation Classroom.One Campsite.One Office Building.One Volunteer HouseOne Guest House.One Canteen.ACRES is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of promoting animal welfare. ACRES is registered as an International NGO in Lao PDR and in Australia. ACRES has six focus areas: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Tackling the Wildlife Trade, Addressing Zoo Animal Welfare, Humane Education, Community Outreach and Promoting Cruelty-Free Living. ACRES established Singapore�s first dedicated wildlife rescue centre in 2009. Since then, ACRES has rescued over 1,500 wild animals.Lao Zoo was established in 1994 in partnership with the Ministry of Defense and supports the conservation and protection of endangered wild fauna and flora, promotes breeding and research of rare wildlife and plants, both those endemic to Lao PDR and elsewhere in the world, and strives to be the ecological knowledge centre and tourist attraction where people can come to relax and learn more about the animals and plants.Love Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit animal protection organisation and is dedicated to the protection of Southeast Asian wildlife through education and outreach. Love Wildlife is committed to educating the younger generation of the importance of wildlife conservation by running fun and interactive education programmes to spread awareness of existing and future issues/concerns. �

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