Kaeng Krachan: A team of academics from Kaeng Krachan National Park, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society of Thailand (WCS), has unveiled the results of a comprehensive survey along the Phetchaburi River. The survey captured rare images of "tapirs" and "Indochinese tigers" through camera traps, while also revealing illegal activities in the area.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Mongkol Chaiyaphakdi, Chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, stated that during a mission in late April 2025 to maintain wildlife camera traps, officials found images of 'Tapirus indicus,' a large mammal with fewer than 250 individuals remaining in Thailand. The images also included a female 'Indochinese tiger', identified as KKT-04F, which plays a crucial role in the species' reproduction in the western forests. Other rare predators such as 'leopards' and 'clouded leopards' were also captured, highlighting the richness of the ecosystem in the 2,914 sq.km. park area, one of the most fertile forests in Southeast Asia. However, the cameras also recorded four men carrying guns at night, indicating possible illegal hunting activities. Additionally, two cameras were lost, likely dismantled to destroy evidence.
The park has responded by ordering increased patrols in areas showing signs of encroachment. During the return journey, officials arrested five men using bamboo rafts to transport honey, seizing over 300 kilograms of wild honey. Three of the men, identified as from Myanmar, managed to escape. Subsequent searches revealed the remains of a 'southern spectacled langur' in the possession of one suspect, who admitted to planning to cook it. Charges have been filed for entering a national park without permission and illegally collecting forest products, with penalties including fines up to 100,000 baht. The escaped Myanmar national faces charges of possessing protected wildlife remains and destruction of natural resources, carrying potential penalties of up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to 500,000 baht.
Kaeng Krachan National Park is set to enhance patrols during the rainy season, a period associated with increased poaching and wildlife crime, and plans to expand camera trap installations in the Tenasserim mountain range along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The public is urged to report any illegal activities in the park via hotline 1362 or the 'Kaeng Krachan National Park' Facebook page.