It takes a keen eye to spot some of Khao Yai’s more reclusive animals, many only come out to hunt and forage at night. Setting camera traps and identifying tracks is the only way to ever know they were there.

Kanda Damrongchainarong uses these techniques to monitor the health of animal populations in Khao Yai. PeunPa’s Conservation Project Field Coordinator, Kanda has been monitoring wildlife in the park for 4 years and speaks passionately about the animals she works to protect.

This Sun Bear, identified by the pale patch of fur on its chest, was captured on film in the early morning using a camera trap. Photographers would be unlikely to get this close to any of Khao Yai’s wild animals.

Usually set along identified animal thoroughfares in the forest; camera traps use an infra-red sensor to detect movement, triggering a flash camera. Despite being enclosed inside a protective case, they can be damaged by bad weather, inquisitive ants and larger animals, such as bears and elephants.

Kanda says that cameras recovered intact often tell interesting stories over several nights in the forest, recording the nocturnal movements of animals and poachers alike.

Kanda freezes on the trail a few steps ahead, making a hand motion to stay quiet. She’s seen something on the opposite river bank that no one else noticed.

Her voice is a whisper as she points across the water. Suddenly, we notice movement; a crocodile shifts its head to keep an eye on us, its open mouth sending a warning.

Nature watchers Steve and Tanja uploaded this video footage of the freshwater crocodile that has made its home in this Khao Yai stream, in close proximity to the walking track.

PeunPa’s Carnivore Conservation Project Field Coordinator, Kanda Damrongchainarong, explains that there is no active breeding population of crocodiles native to Khao Yai, so individuals like this one must have made their way into the park from other areas.

Still, the appearance of this croc is a good sign for Khao Yai’s river systems. Like tigers, these large carnivores are positive indicators of a healthy ecosystem supporting enough prey for them to hunt.

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.

With information on hiking and park highlights, PeunPa’s newly launched Khao Yai Sustainable Visitor’s Guide (PDF 375kb) is a must read for anyone thinking of visiting this amazing World Heritage listed National Park.

The Guide contains advice on getting to Khao Yai and booking accommodation for overnight stays. Some of Khao Yai’s best sights and activities are featured, with a map of selected short hikes. The Guide also contains information on wildlife and park conservation, as well as tips on limiting the impact of your visit.

If you stay at Khao Yai National Park overnight, you’ll know that tents and bungalows come with a complementary alarm clock - screeching Gibbons!

What may be an incomprehensible racket of howling and hooting to sleepy park visitors is actually one of the most complicated animal communications in nature.

Researchers have only recently become aware of how Gibbon calls can function as detailed warnings of danger, not just romantic serenades.

Scientists from as far away as Scotland and Germany have come to Khao Yai to study the musical calls of these tree dwelling apes, discovering that Gibbons switch the order of sounds to alter the meaning of their songs.

Gibbon calls echo through the Khao Yai forest

Gibbon songs vary so dramatically, their range was compared to that between ‘gangsta rap’ and ’sappy pop’ music by MSNBC journalist Jasmin Aline Persch in her article Low-profile singers of the animal world.

Khao Yai is home to two species of gibbon, the White-handed or Lar gibbon and the rarer Pileated Gibbon. In a small area these two species even hybridize naturally, one of only three such gibbon hybridization zones in the world.

Earlier this month, 300 students attending the Sai Jai Thai Youth Camp spent three days in Khao Yai to learn about the forest, its wildlife, and the importance of nature conservation.

The Sai Jai Thai Youth Camp allows students from the South of Thailand, many from families affected by the 2004 tsunami, to experience a new environment and learn about other parts of the country, including the World Heritage Listed Khao Yai National Park.

Khao Yai and PeunPa staff assisted with fun educational activities, including hiking in the forest; bird watching and wildlife spot lighting; singing folk songs; and hands-on learning with animal bones and paw print casts.

Forbes has named Khao Yai among the Top Spots For Southeast Asian Ecotourism.

Khao Yai was featured in the top ten picks not just for it’s World Heritage listed forests and amazing biodiversity, but also as a place to learn about “regional ecology and conservation efforts.”

The PeunPa Foundation’s community outreach work in villages around the park was noted as a highlight for eco conscious travellers wanting to see and learn about forest conservation in action.

PeunPa is guiding sustainable development projects in several villages that border Khao Yai, to help former poachers become forest protectors.

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.