Supporting Wildlife Conservation Through Stainless Steel Cable Systems
At the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) in Phetchaburi, Kinzi contributed materials and components to improve the Tiger Viewing Bridge, a visitor walkway overlooking the foundation's rescued tigers. Beginning in December 2024, the project involved donating additional steel framing and stainless steel cable components to reinforce the existing structure and provide an improved safety barrier for visitors.
A Sanctuary for Rescued Wildlife
Founded in 2001, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand is one of the country's largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres. The foundation provides long-term care for animals rescued from exploitation, neglect and unsuitable captive environments.
Its Tiger Rescue Centre is home to more than 20 tigers, many of which were rescued from facilities where they had spent years in inadequate living conditions. The viewing bridge beside Stripes Restaurant gives visitors an opportunity to observe the animals while learning about the foundation's conservation work.
As a non-profit organisation, WFFT relies heavily on donations and visitor support to maintain its facilities and provide ongoing care for the animals. Improving visitor infrastructure is important, but it also needs to be balanced against the considerable costs of feeding, housing and providing veterinary care for rescued wildlife.
Bridge Structure and Reinforcement
During a visit to the foundation, Kinzi identified an opportunity to improve the existing Tiger Viewing Bridge. The original structure featured basic handrails and diagonal support beams, with limited additional protection along the visitor walkway.
With visitors using the bridge to view the tigers below, providing a more substantial barrier was an important consideration. The additional framing and cable system would help improve the overall structure while providing a more secure boundary for people using the walkway.
Kinzi offered to support the project by donating the necessary steel frames, wire rope and connection hardware. This contribution helped WFFT improve an existing visitor facility without having to source all the materials through its own budget.
Stainless Steel Cable System
A key part of the improvement was the installation of a stainless steel wire rope barrier. Kinzi supplied 3.2 mm (1/8") diameter 1x19 construction stainless steel wire rope, selected for its relatively rigid construction, clean appearance and suitability for architectural cable applications.
Unlike more flexible wire rope constructions, 1x19 cable consists of 19 individual wires arranged into a comparatively stiff strand. This makes it particularly suitable for straight cable runs where a neat, consistent appearance is important.
The wire rope was supplied together with inside threaded terminals and inside threaded domeheads, providing the connection and termination hardware needed for the cable installation. These fittings form an important part of the overall system, helping create a coordinated installation rather than relying on the wire rope alone.
Additional steel frames were also supplied to support the installation and provide the framework for the new cable barrier. Together, the framing, wire rope and connection components helped create a more substantial protective boundary while maintaining an open view of the tiger enclosure below.
A Contribution Beyond Manufacturing
For Kinzi, this project was an opportunity to put our products and manufacturing capabilities towards something meaningful within our local community.
The donation went beyond supplying individual stainless steel components. By contributing the framing materials, wire rope and associated hardware, we helped WFFT improve an important visitor facility while allowing the foundation to keep its financial resources focused on its primary responsibility: caring for rescued wildlife.
Although the project was relatively modest in scale, we are proud that our products could play a part in supporting an organisation doing such important work. It also demonstrates how Kinzi's stainless steel components can be applied outside traditional marine and industrial environments, contributing to architectural structures, public facilities and community projects.
Project Details
Location: Phetchaburi, Thailand
Project Start: December 2024
Application: Tiger Viewing Bridge / Visitor Safety Barrier
Wire: 3.2 mm (1/8") 1x19 Stainless Steel Wire Rope
Products Donated: Steel Frames, Wire Rope, Inside Threaded Terminals & Inside Threaded Domeheads
Kinzi's Contribution: Material and Component Donation
To learn more about Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, its wildlife rescue programmes and opportunities to support its work, visit www.wfft.org.
