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Meet the Highland Farm Family
The People That Make it Happen
There are many, many people whos support makes the operation of Highland Farm (HF) possible. Here are a few of the core members of our team that are at Farm day in and day out.
Pharanee Chotiros/Deters
The inspirational work of Pharanee Chotiros/Deters has touched many people. Born and raised in Thailand, she completed a Masters in Business Administration after moving to America where she worked and lived for 21 years. It was during this period she met her husband Bill. They retired to Thailand in 1991, building a home and reforesting land in the far throws of Tak province, near the Myanmar border. First they took in one gibbon ape, then two and so on. A quiet retirement turned into Highland Farm and Gibbon Sanctuary (HF), a refuge for injured/abused/abandoned gibbon apes and other creatures in need. Since the passing of her husband in 2002, Pharanee has kept up their cause and continues to operate HF. Her warm smile welcomes people from every walk of life to Highland and into her life. Her efforts with wildlife conservation have garnered her many awards, grants and speaking engagements. She spends her days caring for her 'kids' as she calls the more than 40 gibbons that now call HF home.
Bill Deters
Born in LaCross, Wisconsin in 1933, Bill spent most of his life living abroad and working
in defense. He spent more than 20 years in Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia
working for the US Military in high-level intelligence. Following that he
moved back to the US where he worked for Lockheed Martin, also in defense.
It was during this time he met the love of his life, Pharanee at a Union 76
petrol station in Los Angeles, they later married and the rest as they say
is history. The two retired to Thailand in 1991 and so began his legacy with
the eventual establishment of HF. An incredibly strong-natured person, Bill
was loved by many but also made no mistake that his gibbons were of the utmost
importance and would defend them unconditionally. An inspiration to many and
enigma to some, Bill's legacy lives on despite being murdered in May 2002. If you visit HF you're sure to sense his spirit and understand
some of what made him such an incredibly special person.
Nok
As HF's official manager and caretaker, Nok usually has her hands in every conceivable corner of the operation. With a Bachelor in Political Science and living in bustling Bangkok, she wanted a change of pace and came to HF in 2002 after Bill's passing to assist Pharanee. Nok's gentle but firm nature allows her to keep staff and volunteers functioning effectively while ensuring the gibbons and other animals receive the tender loving care they deserve. Nok has found a deep love for her life at Highland and has become family to Pharanee and her 'kids'.
Workers
Highland Farm would not be able to function without the daily contributions of our four fulltime staff - Sanyan, Tawin, Jumong, and Sonton. All are from nearby Thai villages and have an incredibly strong commitment to HF and its residents. They do things like building and fixing enclosures, taking care of the fields and of course feeding the gibbons - no small task as they eat three times per day, just like humans. While, running their daily errands their eyes are constantly peeled for the long and very strong arms of gibbons who will often reach out of their enclosures for a grab when passing by. Talk about an occupational hazard!
“At high tide fish eat ants; at low tide ants eat fish.” —Thai Proverb
Gibbons live in small, monogamous families composed of a mated pair and up to four offspring. Less than six percent of all primate species (more than 300) are considered monogamous.
Gibbons are one of the few apes where the adult female is the dominant animal in the group. The hierarchy places her female offspring next followed by the male offspring and finally by the adult male.
Gibbons are physically independent at about three, mature at about six, and usually leave the family group at about eight, though they may spend up to ten years in their family group.