Khao Yai Experiences
Stories from Thailand’s World Heritage ParkCan a wider highway be safer for Khao Yai’s animals?
Thailand’s Department of Highways is considering ways to improve the road transportion link between Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri, by expanding the existing two lane, single carriageway that cuts through the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.
Running down a clearing roughly between Khao Yai and Thap Lan National Parks, Highway 304 is a shortcut between the Northeast and East through protected areas that stretch to the Cambodian border.
The existing road presents a hazard for crossing wildlife and some conservationists are concerned the envisaged six-lane highway upgrade will further fragment this World Heritage listed corridor.
At a recent consultation meeting attended by FREELAND staff, the Department of Highways presented proposals to mitigate the impact of the upgrade and possibly even improve safety for wildlife.
Five options are being considered:
- Mountainous Highway Tunnel
- Elevated Highway
- Cut and Cover Tunnel or Shallow Tunnel
- Wildlife Overpass and Underpass Crossing
- Wildlife Overpass Crossing at Specific Locations
The effectiveness of each option in facilitating safe passage for wildlife appears to vary, as does the impact on the immediate environment and project costs.
The Department of Highways is consulting broadly with the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, NGOs, local community groups and university research departments. A final project proposal is expected to be presented to UNESCO this year.
Zooming in on Biodiversity
Professional and amateur photographers, photography enthusiasts and students are invited to submit photo entries to the first ASEAN-wide photo contest “Zooming in on Biodiversity”.
Open until August 30th, 2009, the contest for residents of Southeast Asian countries is being run by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to promote regional public awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Photo entries should highlight:
- Biodiversity, including plants, animals, marine life, or ASEAN Heritage Parks
- Threats to biodiversity and how it affects people’s lives
- The connection between biodiversity and climate change
- Biodiversity as source of livelihoods, such as ecotourism
- Initiatives to protect biodiversity resources
More than USD7,000 in prizes are up for grabs. Visit the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity website for more details.
Wildlife trafficking PSA filmed at Khao Yai
The opening of this confronting public service announcement (PSA) about wildlife trafficking from FREELAND was filmed at Khao Yai National Park’s stunning Haew Suwat Waterfall (location of a breathtaking scene in Danny Boyle’s The Beach).
The PSA’s star is a Slow Loris, an animal commonly poached from protected areas to be sold into the illicit pet trade. Listed as vulnerable to endangered on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species, these cute little creatures are in more demand than Leonardo DiCaprio, but have a tough time surviving outside their natural habitat.
Produced by AsiaWorks Television Bangkok and featuring music specially composed by Damien Rice, this FREELAND PSA is designed to alert everyone to the fact that:
“Thousands of wild animals are trafficked through airports every day.”
These animals belong in the wild. Please share this message with your friends.
UPDATE: View ‘behind-the-scenes’ footage, who said working with kids and animals wasn’t fun?
Rare trees threatened by demand for aromatic oils
Wildlife poachers target Khao Yai’s rare plants as well as animals. Aquilaria crassna (Thymelaeaceae), an increasingly rare tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian forests, for example, is highly sought after for its valuable aromatic wood (Agarwood).
In January and February, Khao Yai park rangers confiscated 50kg of Agarwood, 5 axes, 4 saws and 6 chisels. Rangers can often only gather photographic evidence of Agarwood poaching after it has occured.
Wood is chopped out of living trees and illegally removed from the park, usually to be distilled and exported to East Asian and Middle Eastern markets to supply demand for derivative aromatic, medicinal and religious products. The ability of surviving trees to grow and reproduce is dramatically reduced.
A scientific study of Aquilaria crassna tree populations carried out in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park and published in 2008, concluded that the increase in tree mortality and decrease in sapling growth rate caused by Agarwood poaching could completely wipe out the Aquilaria crassna species in some areas within the next 50 years.
Aquilaria crassna is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and classified as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
FREELAND is concerned that an Agarwood poaching and distillation industry may have sprung up around Khao Yai National Park to take advantage of remaining Agarwood sources within the reserve.
FREELAND is helping to train forest rangers to better protect Khao Yai and helping former poachers from nearby villages support their families legally and sustainably through organic agriculture projects. Please support our efforts.
…and Bears might fly
This year, FREELAND conservation staff have witnessed something new, a flying bear over Khao Yai National Park!
The Bear had earlier attacked one of the park buildings in search of food. For the safety of visitors, rangers decided to sedate the animal and remove it to an isolated location.
Khao Yai’s helicopter was employed to airlift the heavy sleeping beast, which snoozed happily through the entire event.
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Khao Yai Sustainable Visitor's Guide (PDF 275kb)