During our stay on the island of Koh Lipe, we got acquainted with the local circumstances. About 700 Chao Ley (Urak Lawoi) share the small island with about 400-500 stray dogs and cats. Thus, the island is very densely populated, many of the animals suffer from parasites, diseases, and poor food supplies. Some of the diseases are contagious, such as fungal diseases, for human beings who live in very close contact and interaction with the animals. So, the better the animals state of health is, the better the peoples health condition will be.

Tourists, who seek the island  for its remoteness and idyllic beauty tend to see the stray animals as a problem – the growing numbers pose a threat to further development of the island`s economic situation.
In short, population control, disease monitoring and fighting parasites in a humane way serves various goals:
The health condition of the locals, the development of tourism and the animals themselves.

Project objectives:
-Population control (by neutering)
-treatment with antiparasitics of the entire animal population
-treatment of other diseases
-creating awareness for the necessity of such treatment

Goal:
Our goal is to neuter the largest number of female dogs/cats possible in accordance with highest veterinary standards.
Prior and after to operation we will feed the animals to ensure  a better state of health that will improve their capability of dealing with the treatment.
Therefore we need to establish an operating room in a local building where we seek to conduct the necessary operations and surgery.
The building will also serve as a seminary location where we will instruct locals in ways of avoiding parasite infestation.

We are highly confident that our intentions will be wholly successful since the locals as well as the Koh Lipe Castaway resort staff view our objectives with great gratitude and understand the necessity of our actions.

Text: Clarissa Udvardi
Translation: Georg Rottmer