The aim of WOX is to create meaningful experiences through operating in a responsible and ethical manner and creating positive benefits to the destinations it works in.

Background:

Founded in 2003, by two environmentalists Guillaume Feldman and Afzaal Mauthoor, WOX is a creative international responsible tourism company with over 50 years combined experience in environment and animal conservation. Based in the UK, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching (Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo) WOX is contributing positively to the most pressing conservation issues by using the principles of business for social and environmental outcomes.

At the heart of WOX rests a set of core values of long-term social, environmental, educational and economic development for the benefit of participating communities and natural areas. WOX gathers like-minded partner organisations and works with local governments, authorities and communities to network and bring about sustainable solutions.

Responsible Tourism:

Our philosophy to responsible travel is based on creating sustainable working relationships which, as a result of this harmony, enable us to create an economy at a local level and spearhead a new found interest and commitment to the natural environment and inspire custodianship over the natural environment

Our responsibility as a responsible travel company is being creative in our conservation efforts, improving education, raising awareness, improving standards of living for local communities in Borneo. Examples of our initiatives include:

• Wildlife centre and animal sanctuary management
• Exotic animal husbandry and enrichment, veterinary nursing, and conservation.
• Rehabilitation of captive animals towards release in the wild.
• Environmental education activities in local schools to create future knowledge banks and knowledge workers in ecotourism
• Facilitating and co-operating for scientific research on flora, fauna and ecosystem.
• Education and interpretation activities for traveller’s to destinations of special scientific interest
• Cultural interpretation programmes with direct involvement of local communities sharing their lifestyles
• Construction of ecotravelers’ infrastructure using local materials, traditional architecture and design
• Knowledge exchange and transfer
  

Responsible Volunteering:

WOX has developed a new, ethical, innovative and integrated approach to volunteerism over the last 2 years. It successfully runs several volunteer programmes with its flagship being the Great Orangutan Project in Borneo and its Great Turtle Project in East Peninsular of Malaysian Borneo.These Great Projects generate funds for conservation and facilitate exchange of knowledge and skills to aid wild species that are classified as endangered under the Red Data Book.

As a responsible travel company WOX embraces the principles of Responsible Volunteering and believe it’s the key to creating sustainable and meaningful successful volunteer projects that benefit the local community and surrounding environment.

Malaysia benefits from WOX:

WOX has brought the following benefits to Malaysian Borneo:

• Conservation motivated travel generates local economy. On average WOX coordinates 300 travellers and volunteers a year motivated to travel to Malaysia to experience conservation of either orangutans or sea turtles. These travellers and volunteers have generated a total revenue of RM3.15 million (£525,000) a year, spent on local businesses, local tour operators and local villages and sponsorship of conservation projects.
• Wealth Creation in Remote Areas - WOX has been responsible for wealth creation in remote areas of jungles and islands. For example in Batang Ai, Sarawak, WOX together with a local partner has invested in building an eco lodge neighbouring a local Iban tribes village. By regularly bringing in volunteers to sight orangutans in the wild, WOX has facilitated and trained local villagers and nature guides to be more entrepreneurial in selling their handicraft and providing cultural or nature based services to their international visitors. From sightings of orangutans, locals are able to make a comfortable living in their remote village. This gives the village youth hope of a career in the area and slows the brain drain or "unthreading" of the cultural fabric of that society.
• Increased recognition of Sarawak as a centre for orangutan conservation. In collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation, WOX and Orangutan Appeal UK was responsible for coordinating the world’s first eye cataract operation on a blind male orangutan in May 2007. This event made world headlines and increased the reputation of Sarawak as a caring state. It was featured on all Malaysian leading papers, CNN, Times UK, Guardian UK, and various South African and Australian news. WOX has also brought the BBC to carry out for radio documentaries. There is still more stories to tell and press are invited to our projects.
• Collaboration and partnership. WOX has worked to build joint partnerships and collaboration in Malaysia resulting in them being invited to a one to one meeting with the Minister of Tourism, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan B Tengku Mansor on the 9th of September 2006, discussing new ideas for ecotourism in Malaysia. WOX is in frequent discussions with the Malaysia Tourism Board and the Sarawak Tourism Board.