WWF Foundation supported a tiger population recovery project in the upper Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) in collaboration with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation. This initiative built upon previous conservation efforts taking place in the upper WEFCOM, where serves as a vital stronghold for tiger recovery. The project focuses on four key practices: tiger population research and monitoring, enhancing quality patrol operations, recovering prey populations and food sources, and raising awareness. These efforts are being carried out across four protected areas: Mae Wong National Park, Khlong Lan National Park, Khlong Wang Chao National Park, and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary.
The foundation provided one GPS collar for a female sambar deer to track its movements after being released back into the wild. This effort is a part of the tiger population recovery project in the Mae Wong – Khlong Lan National Park. To date, the project has successfully released a total of 114 sambar deer.
However, the patrol operations have revealed several limitations, such as a lack of necessary equipment and insufficient development of rangers’ skills for quality patrols. To enhance the effectiveness of these operations, the foundation has provided essential equipment, including 30 sets of camera traps, 25 sets of SMART mobile phones and power banks, 90 sets of hammocks and fly sheets, 75 sleeping bags, 50 rucksacks, and 19 water filters. Additionally, the foundation has supplied food rations for the authorities at Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, including rice, instant noodles, and canned fish, for a period of two months.
The foundation has also provided the training courses such as the SMART patrol training, a trainer certification course for developing leadership skills, and tactical training for quality patrols. Additionally, a workshop on using SMART mobile phones was also conducted for rangers in the field. The foundation upgraded the solar power system at the Pang Sangkasi Ranger Station unit in Khlong Wang Chao National Park and the Khlong Sue Kam Ranger Station unit in Mae Wong National Park to ensure sufficient electricity for the park’s offices.
The continued nature conservation requires participation from all sectors, especially from communities and schools surrounding national park areas. WWF Foundation recognizes the importance of the collaboration. Thus, the project has provided mascots of panda bears and tigers, musical instruments, and other necessary materials for the tiger conservation camps, “Visit a Tiger’s Home” events, and school and community outreach efforts. This includes the development of tiger and wildlife learning centers, the development of curricula for education, forest discovery activities, and the exhibition to raise awareness in public. These efforts aim to encourage participation in the conservation of tigers and wildlife in the upper Western Forest Complex, ensuring its biodiversity.
