Consisting of 4 conservation areas: Mae Wong National Park, Khlong Lan National Park, Khlong Wang Chao National Park, and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, it covers an area of approximately 4,500 square kilometers. It is considered a forest with a complex ecosystem and biodiversity, allowing tigers and other wildlife species to roam freely. From long -term tiger population survey and monitoring, no less than 19 tigers were found to have spread from the Thung Yai – Huai Kha Khaeng World Heritage Forest to the Upper Western Forest, ensuring that this area is the heart for tiger population recovery in Thailand and is also a hope for increasing the Indochinese tiger population worldwide.
The tiger recovery project in the Upper Western Forest Complex has been continuously implemented to this day through the collaboration of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and WWF Thailand. The work is carried out in four main areas: tiger population research and monitoring, supporting quality patrol operations, improving food sources and restoring ungulate populations, and raise awareness and building networks for conservation to ensure the successful conservation and recovery of the tiger population according to our goals.
Tigers are rare animals. Tigers can be identified by their unique patterns. Therefore, studying the tiger population using automatic camera traps is a suitable and accurate method. Survey and install 2 automatic camera traps at each point, opposite and 3-5 meters away from the animal trails. The infrared beam transmitter is 45 centimeters above the ground. Each point takes about 45 days to set up the cameras and check the camera’s performance every 15 days. When the time is up, the images are analyzed.
Habitat improvement and restoration and the release of ungulates back into the wild are important factors for the survival of the tiger population. If the number of prey animals decreases, it will affect the tiger population. The prey animals of ungulates are ungulate mammals such as gaur, sambar deer, barking deer and wild boar, which have a low population and may affect the survival of tigers in the area. The main reason for the decline of prey animals is the loss of areas that are sources of water and food, especially grassland ecosystems found in the area, which are quite few. In addition, the topography of some areas is mountainous, resulting in insufficient space for the population growth of this group of animals. Therefore, the project is improving and restoring habitats, including restoring grass fields, adding salt licks, natural water sources, and assessing the potential of the area to determine whether it is suitable for releasing wildlife back into the wild. The wildlife released must be species that were previously found in the area. The results of this operation will help increase the number of ungulates that can continue to survive in this forest.
Patrol operations in the area to eliminate threats from hunting and deforestation are the missions of the strong team of rangers under the supervision and supervision of the Department of National Parks. Therefore, in order for rangers to have knowledge, confidence and safety in their work, the project has continuously supported training to enhance their potential in various areas, such as the use of tools and technology, such as geographic coordinate tools, compasses, maps, data recording, patrolling techniques, first aid courses, etc. In addition, necessary field equipment, food supplies and improvements to quality patrol centers and ranger units have been provided, as well as the systematic creation of a quality patrol database through the SMART program, so that rangers who work with dedication can proudly perform their missions, be safe and effectively protect forest resources and wildlife to remain in Thai forests.
The project aims to convey knowledge and importance of tigers to the general public, especially the new generation of youth, so that they are aware of information about endangered wildlife resources through campaign activities in schools and communities, such as establishing a tiger house at Khlong Lan National Park and setting up a classroom for the Tiger Science Program at Khlong Lan Kindergarten School, Kamphaeng Phet, to be used as a classroom to learn about tiger and wildlife conservation. In addition, there are activities in the form of a new forest teacher plan according to the guideline of “Reducing study time – increasing learning time” by reducing time in the classroom and increasing learning time outside the classroom, including organizing exhibitions and making picture books “Before the Tiger Roars” and “Red Cow… Breath of the Lowland Forest” to show the completeness of the ecosystem and biodiversity in the upper western forests of Thailand. In addition, the use of music and songs through the “Big Cat Band” by forest rangers to communicate and encourage the general public to love and cherish valuable wildlife resources, especially the youth who are the hope of the new generation in continuing the work of tiger and wildlife conservation.
You can be part of the conservation work with us.
Your support is one of the power generation. And to breathe for wildlife
