In the lead up to World Environment Day (June 5), more than 100 students from five schools joined Khao Yai and PeunPa staff to get their hands dirty planting trees on a 20 acre deforested area near the park boundary, where human encroachment had damaged the forest.

Tree planting during the rainy season (May-June) gives saplings the best chance to survive, thanks to reliably high rainfalls. Local villagers grew saplings for the reforestation from seeds, nurturing them for many months - now those saplings can spread their roots.

Luckily, the rain held off on this fun day for all involved; full of music, smiling faces and hands-on conservation. The participation of schools aims to build awareness about the importance of forest preservation for future generations.

With generous support from The Foundation and many small helping hands, PeunPa’s Khao Yai reforestation work is direct action to combat global warming and reclaim lost habitat for wildlife.

Every year, park rangers make a pledge to the spirits of Khao Yai at a sacred ceremony in the forest. They promise not to hunt, kill or consume wild animals, and to protect the park from those that would.

Rangers also ask the spirits of Khao Yai to protect them from danger while on patrol. If any ranger was to break their promise to the spirits, it is said they will be cursed with a tragedy within 5-10 days that could also hurt others on the same patrol.

The spirits of Khao Yai are believed to have a connection with a community that settled in Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai and lived in harmony with the forest a long time ago.

The PeunPa Foundation, which also trains Khao Yai’s rangers, is working with the village communities that live around the park today to help them develop a more sustainable relationship with the forest and provide real alternatives to poaching from the park.

On Elephant Day (13/3), Thailand acknowledges the majestic and powerful animal that forms such an integral part of the national identity.

As long as it is protected, Khao Yai National Park is a safe home for many elephants. However, as these visitors to the park found, it’s important to respect wild elephants and allow them space.

The National Elephant Institute is a great place to find more information about the historic importance of elephants in Thailand, as well as current conservation issues. According to the Institute, loss of habitat combined with human pressures could push Thailand’s wild elephants to extinction within 50 years.

At the start of the last century, there were over 100,000 elephants in Thailand. The population is now estimated at just 3,000-4,000. Around half of these are domesticated, with the remainder living wild in national parks like Khao Yai.

Thai conservation groups including PeunPa and Friends of the Asian Elephant are working hard to prevent habitat loss and care for elephants. Please support their efforts.

Khao Yai National Park has been nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World! The World Heritage listed park was recognised for it’s amazing biodiversity, stunning waterfalls and extensive evergreen forests.

The nomination puts Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park alongside places of natural beauty such as Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, Brazil’s Amazon River and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. At the time of this post, Khao Yai was ranked 37th on the list of nominees. Don’t forget to vote for Khao Yai here.

The New7Wonders Project raises funds for monument documentation and conservation efforts worldwide.

Preparations for reforestation plantings around Khao Yai this rainy season have already begun. This photo, taken by PeunPa field officer Sayan, shows workers busy in the large seedling nursery:

Areas close to Khao Yai’s borders, where encroachment has damaged the forest, will be selected by park authorities for reforestation. Tree planting in the rainy season (May-June) gives saplings the best chance to survive and grow, thanks to reliably high rainfalls.

With generous support from The Foundation, PeunPa’s reforestation work in Khao Yai is helping the fight against global warming and reclaiming lost habitat for wildlife.