WILD FAUNA OF THUNG YAI NARE - SUAN

Abstract

Thung Yai Nare - suan Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the areas of Kanjanaburi and Tak Provinces in the Western part of Thailand. The geographical characteristics of the area compose of mountain ranges and many small and large permanent streams. The vegetative covers include the evergreen types such as the hill evergreen, the dry evergreen, and the moist evergreen communities and the deciduous types such as the dry dipterocarp, the mixed deciduous, and the savanna communities. All of these vegetative communities are very fertile at the vergin stage, therefore, the area is suitable for the servival of wild animals.

The aim of this study was to census on the existing wild fauna of this wildlife sanctuary. The field observation method of various techniques and the enquiry method were used. The data were collected during the year 1982 to 1983. There were 67 species of mammals in 26 families existing in this area. Four species are the national resevred by law, namely, Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicos), Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Serow (Capricornis stomatraensis), and Hog Deer (Cervus porcinus). Following Bain and Humphrey (1982), 5 species are rated as the endangered species, 17 species one the threatened species, 45 species are the common species. There were 215 species of birds in 50 families in this wildlife sanctuary but only one is rated as the endangered species while 27 species are the threatened species and the rests are the common species. For reptiles and amphibians, 50 species in 17 families were found in this area and 8 species are the threatened species and the rests are the common species. For fishes, 67 species in 21 families were existed in the area but only 7 species are the threatened species.

The abundance scales rating from the frequency of occurence are classed as rare, moderate and abundance. There were 14 abundance mammal species, 23 moderate species and 30 rare species. For birds 49 were abundance species, 70 moderate species, and 96 rare species. For reptiles and amphibans, 15 were abundance species, 14 moderate species, and 21 rare species. For fishes, 20 were abundance species, 31 moderate species, and 16 rare species.

The existing environmental factors, plants, and animals reflected the highly stable ecosystem in this area. The luxuriance of green plants, herbivores and carnivores animals formes a high complex food web. The warm and wet climate of the monsoon type induces a high rate of nutrient cycle and energy flow in the area creating a well natural balance in this biotic community.