THUNG YAI NARE SUAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY : THE MOST IMPORTANT AREA FOR CONSERVATION OF THE WILDLIFE RESOURCE IN THAILAND

Abstract

A vast remote area of valleys and mountain chains, covering 3,200 square kilometers at the westernmost border of Thailand, the area between Kanchanaburi and Tak provinces called Thung Yai Nare Suan Wildlife Sanctuary, is an undisturbed wildlife habitat where wild flora and fauna can still be found in abundance. Thung Yai Nare Suan is at the cross-roads of Thai zoogeography, forming a link between the northern, central, and southern parts; therefore, many species of wildlife from every part can be found within this area. From 1982 to 1987, a survey was conducted using various techniques of field observation and was supported by data gathered from a review of available literature. The result showed that there were 707 species of vertibrate fauna including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fresh-water fishes, the total numbers of species diversity of each faunal type were 82, 415, 89, 30 and 91, respectively. Based on their present-day status, twenty-one of 707 species have been rated as endangered species and 65 were threatened species. This protected area is suitable enough to guarantee the long-term survival of these remaining critical species from their completeness extinction. Hence, this unique wilderness area, not only of Southeast Asia but also to be listed as the World Natural Heritage, should be treated as wildlife sanctuary instead of changing to other types of land use.