TERF Information
Khao Yai National Park
Summary
Total Area: 2,168 km2
Location: 160 km northeast of Bangkok.
Elevation: between 50 and 1,352m a.s.l.
Annual rainfall: 2,850- 4,000 mm.
Vegetation: Moist Evergreen Forest, Dry Evergreen Forest, Hill Evergreen Forest, - Dry mixed deciduous forests, grasslands and agricultural areas.
Wildlife: At least 71 mammals, 333 birds, 35 reptiles and 18 amphibian species. Among the more charismatic wildlife found at KYNP are four species of hornbills, two species of gibbons, clouded leopard, tiger and elephant.
Conservation Status: Thailand’s first national park and third largest. An Asian Heritage Site. A World Heritage Site with 4 neighbouring protected areas since 2005.
Location
Khao Yai is located on the Dangrek Mountain Range between 15o05’ to 14o15’ north latitude and 101o05’ to 101o50’ east longitude. The Park covers an area of 2168Km2 and is about 160Km north-east of Bangkok. The Park falls within four Provinces:- Saraburi, Nakon Ratchasima, Nakon Nayok and Prachinburi. The northern Park entrance is about 200Km from Bangkok.
Topography and Geology
Elevation range is from about 20m asl to 1351m asl. The highest mountains are Khao Rom (1351m), Khao Laem (1326), Khao Khieo (1292) and Khao Sam Yot (1142). The Headquarters is at about 800m asl.
The northern and western side of the Park is largely Ratburi limestones and marbles with Korat Series sandstones forming the eastern mountains. The steep east-west escarpment seen in Khao Yai runs virtually unbroken to the Dong Rek Range in Cambodia, a distance of 200Km. This escarpment was created about 60 million years ago, when the Himalayas were being created. Geological pressures increased and tilted the Korat plateau higher on its southern rim, creating this fault zone.
Most of the soils in Khao Yai are sandy, clay and sandy-clay and conglomerate in the mountainous areas, with colluvial soils in the foothills. Many of the soils are low in fertility and highly susceptible to erosion.
Climate
Average temperature is 23oC and the average rainfall is 2,270mm/year. There are three seasons in Khao Yai:
- The rainy season (May to October) where it rains most days and daytime temperatures are in the high 20s/low 30s.
- The cool season (November to January). Cool (low/mid 20’s day and down to 10oC at night), usually dry and clear.
- The Hot Season (February to April). Hot (mid 30’s) and dry, strong winds are quite common.
Wildlife
At least 70 species of mammal are known to occur in Khao Yai including tiger, elephant, dhole, Asian Golden Cat, marble cat, clouded leopard, white-handed and pileated gibbons, Malayan sun bear, Asiatic black bear, sambar deer, guar, serow, and tomb bats.
Over 330 birds have been recorded from the Park, nearly 200 of which are resident. Some of the more notable species include oriental hobby, silver pheasant, pompadour pigeon, spot-bellied eagle-owl, blue-eared kingfisher, great slaty woodpecker, brown hornbill, great hornbill, Asian paradise flycatcher, blue pitta and thick-billed flowerpecker.
Preliminary surveys have found at least 72 species of reptiles include king cobra, green tree vipers, banded kraits, reticulated and Burmese pythons, monitor lizards, turtles, flying lizards and Chinese water dragon. Overall, reptiles are understudied in Khao Yai.
The diversity of amphibians, fish and invertebrates is very understudied in Khao Yai. A recent study of frogs in Khao Yai found 20 different species
Habitat Types
There are seven habitat types found within Khao Yai National Park:-
- Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest: Found in the northwest between 400 - 600m asl. Trees include Afzelia xylocarpa, Zylia kerrii and Lagerstromia calyculata. The understory is largely bamboo and grasses. (Covers 5-13%)
- Dry Evergreen forest: Found in the west, north and south between 100 - 400m asl. Trees include Dipterocarpus alatus, Shorea roxburghii, Hopea odorata and Aglaia sp. (Covers ~ 20-30%)
- Moist Evergreen Forest: Found in the central part of the Park between 400 - 1000m asl. Canopy trees include Dipterocarpus alatus, D gracilis, D. costatus, and Schima wallichii. Understory trees include Lithocarpus annamensis, Castanopsis acuminatissima and Quercus fleuryi Vines, lianas, and epiphytes are common. (Covers ~ 50-60%)
- Hill Evergreen Forest: Found on the mountains over 1000m asl. Gymnosperm trees are much more common, eg Podocarpus sp and Dacrydium elatum. Ferns, mosses and epiphytes are very common. (Covers 2-5%)
- Grassland: Found in old farmland areas of the Park. The Park currently manages areas of grassland in the central area by burning in the dry season. This prevents the forest from regenerating. Grassland species include Imperata cylindrica, Saccharum spontaneum and Themeda arundinacea. (Covers ~2%)
- Secondary Growth: Found on old farmland that is not maintained as grassland and in degraded areas around the edge of the Park. Trees include Hibiscus macrophyllus, Macaranga sp., Melastoma normale, and Cratoxylum sp. (Covers ~1-3 %)
- Degraded/Destroyed Forest: This is found around the edges of the Park, mostly in what used to be Mixed Deciduous and Dry Evergreen Forest (Covers ~4%)
- Plantation Forest: Areas planted by the Park in previously degraded forest. (Covers ~2%).