Since spring 2003, we have been organizing training workshops on primate ecology and conservation for Thai forest personnel, students, and lecturers. The workshops aim at:

• igniting interest in primates as study and conservation subjects
• enabling to collect comparative quantitative measurements of primate distribution and density
• enabling to include primates into the conservation priorities of Thailand
• igniting interest in Thai students for future studies in primate biology and conservation
• increasing awareness about primates particularly in buffer zones

Participants are trained in a variety of topics ranging from primate evolution and social systems, to their current distribution and conservation:

• lectures: evolution, phylogeny, taxonomy, distribution, morphology, genetics, conservation, reintroduction, climate, habitat and phenology as well as individual identification, social systems and data collection techniques.

• lab exercises: morphological characteristics, ecological data, measurements during line transect sampling, behavioral observations, data analysis and presentation.

• exercises/ excursions: Phu Khieo Breeding Center, observation of wild Phayre's leaf monkeys, line transect sampling, gibbon listening posts.

The workshops are supported through external grants [sponsors] and organized in collaboration with:

• the sanctuary authorities: Dr. Kanjana Nitaya (superintendent) and Mr. Kitti Kreetiyutanont (chief, Natural Resource Management)

• the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)

• Kasetsart University, Bangkok: Dr. Naris Bhumpakphan and Dr. Wichan Eiadthong (Department of Forest Biology)

• Mahidol University, Bangkok: Dr. Warren Brockelman (Center for Conservation Biology)