Green-Jungle Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary





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		HUAI KHA KHAENG WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

		UNESCO declared on December 13th,1991

				Blackground This area, bordering Uthai Thani Province and Tak Province, was declared a wildlife preserve in 1972. The FAO is presently making a survey of the area and will open it as the most complete wildlife sanctuary in Southeast Asia. The area is 2,575 sq.km (636,300 acres) following an extension to the south and east in 1986. It is contiguous with Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (3,200 sq.km or 790,700 acres) to the west. Although the two sanctuaries are administered separately, they are essentially a single conservation area representing the largest legislated protected area in mainland South-east Asia. Generally, this area consists of virgin forests, clear forests, prairies and many streams, all suitable for wildlife breeding expansion. Here can be found many species of wild animals including rare and nearly extinct species. Fauna The fauna of both Thung Yai and Huai Kha Khaeng includes an unusual mix of species with primarily Sundaic, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Burmese and Sino-Himalayan affinities,
		many of whose ranges do not overlap. Most species are either characteristic of the Oriental/Indo-Malayan region or more specifically associated with the Indo-Chinese province of that region, but with a strong Sundaic element included. A small proportion is Palaearctic.
				Huai Kha Khaeng supports a significant proportion of Thailand's animal species, including several more commonly seen in the north or south of the country. Of Thailand's 265 mammal species, 67 are known to occur in this sanctuary. Among these are three of the National Reserved Wildlife Species of Thailand: wild water buffalo, mainland serow and hog deer. The presence of another, Thailand brow-antlered deer, has not been definitely confirmed since two were shot in 1965. Some 24-40 water buffalo (the only herd in Thailand) are found in the south of the sanctuary, but there is some doubtabout whether or not there has been any interbreeding with domestic animals.
		Hog deer are said to have been seen at least twice just south of Huai Mae Dee, a tributary of the Huai Kha Khaeng, but they are assumed to number very few. Other threatened mammals include Asiatic wild dog, tiger, leopard (black forms being as commonly seen as spotted), clouded leopard, Asian elephant, estimated to number 150-200 animals, Asian tapir (rarely seen, but tracks are common in parts of the sanctuary) and Fea's muntjac.
				Gaur and banteng are still fairly common, although they have become increasingly rare elsewhere in Thailand due to poaching. At least two species of otter have been identified, namely Oriental small-clawed and smooth-coated. All five macaque species occurring in Thailand are present, namely rhesus, crab-eating, pig-tailed, Assam and stump-tailed. The presence of these sympatric species may be the result of the area having been a Pleistocene refugium. Other primates include silver leaf monkey, Phayre's leaf monkey and white-handed gibbon.

		Bird Watching Of Thailand's 986 species of birds, over 410 have so far been recorded in the sanctuary. Many of these are now rare in Thailand, including green peafowl, red-headed vulture, Kalij pheasant, Burmese peacock-pheasant, Rufous-necked Hornbill (The most beautiful hornbill in the world), Plain-pouched Hornbill, white-winged wooduck, many species of Woodpecker and other interested birds.

		photo by : Prof. Dr. Pilai Poonsawad		RUFOUS-NECKED HORNBILL Scientific Name: Aceros nipalensis Family: Bucerotidae Description and status: Male: Very large (117 cm), bright fufous head, neck and underparts, white tail with black. Female: Head, neck and underparts black orbital skin a little duller. Voice: barking kup. Range: S Asia, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, S Yunnan, SE Tibet, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Status: Threatened, rare resident. Habitat: Evergreen and hill evergreen forests from 600-1800m.

				BLACK-HEADED WOODPECKER Scientific Name: Picus erythropygius Family: Picidae Description and status: Black head contrasts with yellow throat and upper breast; bright greenish upperparts. Voice: ka-tek-a-tek-a-tek-a-tek… Range: S Asia from E India to Indonesia. Status: Uncommon resident. Habitat: Deciduous forests.

				GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON Scientific Name: Ducula aenea Family: Ducula Description and status: Upperparts mostly dark metallic green with variable rufous-chestnut gloss; head, neck and underparts rather uniform vinous-tinged pale grey, undertail coverts dark chestnut. Voice: wah-wahrroo, boooo... Range: S Asia from E India to Indonesia. Status: Uncommon resident. Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen, semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous.

				BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE Scientific Name: Oriolus xanthornus Family: Oriolidae Description and status: Yellow body plumage with black head and throat; black and yellow wings and tail. Voice: kyehhr. Range: India, S. China, SE Asia, Sumatra and Borneo. Status: Common resident. Habitat: Dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous woodlands and open, secondary evergreen forest.

				COLLARED FALCONET Scientific Name: Microhierax caerulescens Family: Falconidae Description and status: Tiny; blackish upperparts with white forehead, supercilium and white collar across back of neck. Broad black line through the eye. Underparts mainly white, with rufous suffusion on throat, thighs, flanks and under tail converts. Voice: - Range: E Himalayan foothills and SE Asia. Status: Common resident. Habitat: Deciduous forests, clearings and edge of evergreen forests.

				WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Scientific Name: Garrulax leucolophus Family: Garrulax Description and status: White head, throat, breast and erectile crest contrasting with black mask. Upperparts bright rufous. Voice: khow-khow-khow, chek-ko-hoak… Range: S Asia from E India to Indonesia. Status: Common resident. Habitat: Mixed deciduous and evergreen forests, bamboo, secondary growth.


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