| Khao Yai National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Haeo Suwat waterfall |
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| Location | Thailand |
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| Coordinates | 14°26′29″N 101°22′11″E / 14.44139°N 101.36972°ECoordinates: 14°26′29″N 101°22′11″E / 14.44139°N 101.36972°E |
| Area | 2,168 km² |
| Established | 1962 |
Khao Yai National Park (Thai เขาใหญ่) is a national park in Thailand.
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Description
Khao Yai National Park is situated in the Sankambeng Mountain Range, the southern prolongation of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, at the southwestern boundary of the Khorat Plateau.[1]
This park lies largely in Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Khorat), but also includes parts of Saraburi, Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok provinces.
The park is the second largest in Thailand. It covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers, including evergreen forests and grasslands. Its altitude mostly ranges from 400 to 1000 m above sea level. There are 3,000 species of plants, 320 species of birds like red junglefowl and green peafowl and 67 species of mammals, including Asiatic black bears, Asian elephants, gaur, tigers, gibbons, Indian sambar deer, crab-eating macaque, Indian muntjac, dholes, and wild pigs. Its waterfalls include the 80 metre Heo Narok, and Haeo Suwat made famous from the film The Beach. Namtok Sarika is popular with the Thais.
Recent wildlife studies show that animal ranges, particularly the few resident tigers, are impacted by human activity near the center of the park. This study has not impacted the government's call for private lodging concessions within the park itself.
Services
The park is often visited by travellers from Isan, Bangkok and beyond. The fee is 400 baht for foreigners (200 for children), and 40 for Thais.
- There are over 50 km of hiking trails.
- Food is available from private concessions within the park.
- Night-time "wildlife spotlighting" is available via pick-up trucks in the early evening. Animals sighted usually are limited to deer and civet cats, and only rarely include elephants.
History
Established on September 18, 1962, Khao Yai National Park was the country's first national park. A major role in its establishment was done by Boonsong Lekakul, one of the 20th century's most famous conservationists in Thailand.
In 1984 the park was made an ASEAN Heritage Park, and on July 14 2005 the park together with other parks in the Dong Phaya Yen mountains was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest Complex.
Lands adjacent to the national park are increasingly developed into luxury hotels and golf courses for weekending visitors from Bangkok. Such development limits wildlife corridors and permanently reduces future conservation and land acquisition ability.
See also
- Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex
References
External links
- National Park Division
- Khao Yai National Park travel guide from Wikitravel
- Khao Yai Experiences Blog
- Elephant Holiday in Thailand and wildlife pictures from Khao Yai
- thaibirding.com on Khao Yai National Park
- Photo from Khao Yai National Park
- List of Birds of Khao Yai National Park
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
