2026 WARN Asia Conference

We are very pleased to announce the 2026 WARN Asia annual conference, taking place from 16-18 November 2026 in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, hosted by the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).

The conference will bring together rescue centers, government wildlife agencies, animal welfare organisations, and other conservation professionals from across East and Southeast Asia. Together, the participants will exchange knowledge and build stronger regional partnerships to advance wildlife rescue and conservation.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Merging Animal Rescue and Ecotourism for Wildlife Conservation”. Across the region, wildlife rescue centers are playing an increasingly important role in conservation, education, and community engagement. At the same time, responsible ecotourism is creating new opportunities to support wildlife protection while generating sustainable benefits for local communities. 

This conference aims to explore how these two fields can work together to strengthen conservation efforts and create long-term support for wildlife and their habitats.

🗓️ Preliminary Program

• 15 November – Arrival
• 16 November – Conference Day 1 & Welcome Dinner at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort
• 17 November – Conference Day 2
  The evening is free for participants to explore the area, arrange their own dinner, or join an optional night walk.
• 18 November – Conference Day 3, WARN Asia Board Election & Farewell Dinner at Sepilok B&B
• 19 November – Optional field excursion & departure

📍 Venue & Accommodation

The conference will be held at the Ormond Hotel Sandakan.

Accommodation and flights are not included in the conference fee and need to be arranged independently by participants. Transportation will be provided between the conference venue and recommended nearby hotels.

Suggested accommodation, including discounted participant room rates at the Ormond Hotel, will be provided after registration.

✅ What is included in the participation fee

• Full access to all conference sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities
• Coffee breaks and lunches throughout the conference
• Welcome Dinner (16 November)
• Farewell Dinner (18 November)
• Scheduled airport transfers on 15 and 19 November
• Transportation between recommended hotels and the conference venue (where required)
• Optional field excursion on 19 November, including lunch

📢 Call for Presentations

We welcome participants who wish to present their work during the conference.

If you would like to give a presentation or facilitate a workshop, please submit your abstract to edda@wfft.org by 30 September 2026.

While presentations on all wildlife rescue and conservation topics are welcome, preference will be given to those aligned with this year’s conference theme.

💳 Registration & Conference Fees

• Early Bird (until 31 August 2026): USD 200 per participant
• Regular Registration (1 September–10 October 2026): USD 250 per participant

Important Dates

• 31 August 2026 – Early Bird registration deadline
• 30 September 2026 – Presentation abstract deadline
• 10 October 2026 – Registration and payment deadline

Register here.

Further practical information, including recommended accommodation, payment, airport transfers, and optional activities, will be sent after registration.

For any questions, please contact edda@wfft.org.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sandakan for an inspiring conference.