WRC Jogja was founded in 2010 by YKAY (Yayasan Konservasi Alam Yogyakarta), can translate it into Yogyakarta Nature Conservation Foundation, a non-profit that works with rescue centers in Indonesia. We have been operating as a rescue center since 2003, but under a different name.
In 2003, Wild Animal Rescue Centre was established as part of the Indonesian ‘Wildlife Rescue Center Network’ to take temporary care of protected wildlife that have been involved in confiscation operations. The centre also receives wild animals submitted by the community or private owners, with the intent to rehabilitate and release them back to the wild.
In 2007, the ‘network’ collapsed, funding was withdrawn, and our rescue centre fell into disrepair. For three years, lack of funding and support meant the centre struggled with basic daily operation and staff and animals suffered as a result.
Since 2010, the centre has been under new management — Yogyakarta Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAY). The foundation is a non-profit and non-government organization dedicated to Indonesian wildlife conservation. It is registered at the Ministry of Law and Human Right Republic of Indonesia as a legal foundation in Indonesia. It also has permission as a conservation organization from the Ministry of Forestry Republic of Indonesia. Under the new management, we were renamed Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) Jogja, and is the centre as we know it today.