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Khao
Yai National Park
Tropical moist
evergreen forest covers the central area of Khao Yai
National Park. The rich diversity of plants (about 2,000
species) astound the new-comer. Towering trees draped in
mosses, climbers and epiphytes, tangled trunks of the
strangling figs, drooping lianas and spiny rattan palms,
delicate ferns, multicoloured lichens and an ever-changing
array of fungi. There is aways something new to discover in
the forest. The park has a diverse plant community,
comprised of five main vegetation types:
Dry Evergreen Forests: These forests cover the lower
slopes of Khao Yai. There are a number of important plant
species found within this type of forest, including
Dipterocarps and Hopia. Bamboo is also often found in drier
forests.
Dry Deciduous Forests: These forests also cover the
lower slopes of Khao Yai. The most important plant species
found within Deciduous Forests include Afzelia, Xylia and
Lagerstroemia.
Tropical Moist Evergreen Forest: Tropical Moist
Evergreen Forest covers around 70% of the park, including
its central area. Dipterocarps are an important species
found within these forests.
Hill Evergreen Forests: This forest type grows above
1,000 m. In Hill Evergreen Forests, the trees are smaller
and ferns, mosses and epiphytes abound. Lithocarps and
Catanopsis are amongst the most important species found
here.
Grasslands: These areas are a unique habitat, and
provide a grazing area year – round for some of the parks
animals. Grassland provides a welcome relief to all the
forest . The park mange (burn annually) the grassland to
prevent trees from invading and to provide year round
grazing for deer, elephants and guar. Wildlife is plentiful
(70 mammal species, at least 74 species of herptile and
thousands of invertebrates) but often hard to see. Sambar
(large, gray-brown, often in groups) and barking deer
(smaller, red-brown, usually in pairs or alone) are
frequently seen in the grasslands or on spotlighting tours.
Khao Yai’s forests are teeming with wildlife and birds. Look
up and down and form side, tread softly, and listen
carefully to discover the real movers and shakers in the
forest. Gibbons provide an excellent morning wake-up call
with their mournful hoots. Quiet, patient walkers may catch
a glimpse of these tree-living apes. Macaques are often seen
on the roadsides. Elephants are sometimes spotted at
salt-licks or on the road in the evenings and lucky (?)
tourists may spot a tiger in the grasslands during the
evenings.
Civets, squirrels, porcupines, and wild pigs add a bit of
variety. Snakes and lizards usually make their presence
known by a rustle in the undergrowth as you are walking. If
you see a snake, treat it as dangerous unless you know
otherwise!! Geckos are frequently seen catching insects on
building walls and ceilings. Cicadas never stop their
scratchy hum. Look up and down and from side to side to spot
the real movers and shakers in the forest - the insects and
invertebrates.
Birds: We've got lots - over 320 species have been
recorded. To the non-expert, birds are often just mysterious
whistles, trills and calls, or a flutter of wings and a
glimpse of colour. Patience is needed,good binoculars and a
bird guide help. Roadsides, the old golf course, grasslands
and the watching towers are good places to start . Hornbills
are quite easy to spot, and hear the "gak gak gak" laugh of
the Indian Pied (often seen in big flocks near Nong Pak Chi
Tower in the evenings), or the deep resonant "gok…gok" of
the Great Hornbill (usually seen in pairs or alone, the
biggest of Khao Yai's hornbills)
Bats: Nearly 1 million insecteating bats live in a
cave on the edge of the Park. Drive about 3 km to the north
of the Park Chong entrance gate and take a small track on
the left-hand side just past a temple. A few hundred metres
up here take a right-hand turn and follow the track to the
end. You can climb the hill to the cave. Please do not enter
the cave - you will disturb the bats. Allow them to come out
for about 3 minutes before taking any flash photography.
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