ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE
FLORA & FAUNA
peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. There is also an inter-
esting overlap that provides habitat for plants and animals from both
zones starting in Uthai Thani and extending south to the gulf region
around Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Thailand is particularly rich in birdlife, with over a thousand re-
corded resident and migrating species, approximately 10% of the world’s
bird species. The cool mountains of northern Thailand are populated
by montane species and migrants with clear Himalayan affi nities such
as fl ycatchers and thrushes. The arid forests of Khao Yai National Park
in northeastern Thailand are a favourite for hornbills. Marshland birds
prefer the wetlands of the central region, while Sundaic species such as
Gurney’s Pitta fl ock to the wetter climate of southern Thailand.
Besides abundant birdlife, visitors to the country’s national parks are
most likely to spot monkeys. Thailand is home to fi ve species of macaque,
four species of the smaller leaf-monkey and three species of gibbons. Al-
though they face the same habitat loss as other native species, monkeys
sometimes survive in varying states of domestication with humans. The
long-armed gibbons were once raised alongside children in rural villages,
and macaques can be found living in small wooded patches or unused
temples in population centres.
Other species found in the kingdom’s parks and sanctuaries include
gaur (Indian bison), banteng (wild cattle), serow (an Asiatic goat-ante-
lope), sambar deer, muntjac (barking deer), mouse deer and tapir – to
name a few.
Thailand has six venomous snakes: the common cobra, king co-
bra, banded krait, green viper, Malayan viper and Russell’s pit viper.
Although the relatively rare king cobra can reach up to 6m in length,
the nation’s largest snake is the reticulated python, which can reach a
whopping 10m.
The country’s many lizard species include two common varieties –
đúk·gaa, a reclusive and somewhat homely gecko heard in the early
evening coughing its name; andd jîng·jòk, a spirited house lizard that is
usually spotted on ceilings and walls chasing after bugs. The black jun-
gle monitor, which looks like a miniature dinosaur, lives in some of the
southern forests.
The oceans are home to hundreds of species of coral, and the reefs
created by these tiny creatures provide the perfect living conditions for
hundreds of species of fi sh, crustaceans and tiny invertebrates. You can
fi nd the world’s smallest fi sh (the 10mm-long goby) and the largest (the
18m-long whale shark), plus reef denizens such as clownfi sh, parrotfi sh,
wrasse, angelfi sh, triggerfi sh and lionfi sh. Deeper waters are home to
grouper, barracuda, sharks, manta rays, marlin and tuna. You might also
encounter turtles, whales and dolphins.
Thailand’s most famous animals are also its most endangered. The
Asian elephant, a smaller cousin to the African elephant, once roamed
the forests of Indochina in great herds. But the wild elephant faces ex-
tinction due to habitat loss and poaching. The population of wild el-
ephants in Thailand is estimated at about 1000.
Reclusive wild tigers stalk the hinterlands between Thailand and My-
anmar but in ever-decreasing numbers. It is diffi cult to obtain an accurate
count but experts estimate that around 200 to 300 wild tigers remain in
Thailand. Although tiger hunting and trapping is illegal, poachers con-
tinue to kill the cats for the overseas wildlife trade.
The rare dugong (also called manatee or sea cow), once thought ex-
tinct in Thailand, survives in a few small pockets around Trang, but is
increasingly threatened by habitat loss and the lethal propellers of tour-
ist boats.Wild
National
Parks» (^) Kaeng Krachan,
Phetchaburi
Province
» (^) Western
Forest Complex,
Kanchanaburi
Province
» (^) Kuiburi National
Park, Prachuap
Khiri Khan
Province
The Mekong River
rivals the Amazon
River in terms
of biodiversity
and shelters
endangered and
newly discovered
species, such
as the Khorat
big-mouthed frog,
which uses fangs
to catch prey.