Kaeng Krachan National Park

Kaeng Krachan National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the location of Kaeng Krachan National Park
Map of Thailand
Location Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, Thailand
Nearest city Phetchaburi
Coordinates 12°45′0″N 99°36′0″E / 12.75000°N 99.60000°E / 12.75000; 99.60000Coordinates: 12°45′0″N 99°36′0″E / 12.75000°N 99.60000°E / 12.75000; 99.60000
Area 2,914.7 km2 (1.8 million rai).
Established 12 Jun 1981

Kaeng Krachan (Thai: แก่งกระจาน) is the largest national park of Thailand.[1] It is on the border with Burma, contiguous with the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve. It is a popular park owing to its proximity to the tourist town of Hua Hin.

Geography

Kaeng Krachan Reservoir

The park covers parts of the districts Nong Ya Plong, Kaeng Krachan, and Tha Yang of Phetchaburi Province, and of Hua Hin of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It consists mainly of rain forest on the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range. The highest elevation in the park is 1,513 meters, in a "joint area of Thailand and Myanmar". The second highest mountain peak is Kao Panern Toong with an elevation of 1,207 m.[1] Two main rivers originate within the park area, the Pranburi River and the Phetchaburi River. The Phetchaburi is blocked by the Kaeng Krachan Dam at the eastern border of the park. The dam creates a lake covering an area of 46.5 km2. The dam was built in 1966.

History

The park was created on 12 June 1981 as the 28th national park of Thailand. Originally covering an area of 2,478 km2, it was enlarged in December 1984 to include the boundary area between Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces.

The park has been included in the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks. Since 2011, Thailand has been trying to get Unesco to designate Kaeng Krachan Natural Park as a world heritage site. Myanmar claims that about one-third of the land included in Thailand's claim—almost 1,000 km2—is part of Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region and has opposed Thailand's effort.[2]

The killing of wild elephants is a big problem at the park,[3] with authorities unable to control poachers.[4] Some park officials are allegedly involved in the trade of elephant parts.[5]

Despite national park status, there are private plantations within the confines of Kaeng Krachan National Park. Some of these are surrounded by electric fences which, in June 2013, fatally electrocuted an elephant calf.[6]

Flora and fauna

The forests contain a great biodiversity of tropical vegetation, including tropical and subtropical broad leaf tree species and palms. Fifty-seven species of mammals and more than 400 bird species have been counted in the park.

References

  1. 1 2 "KAENG KRACHAN NATIONAL PARK". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Thailand bid to list Kaeng Krachan back to square one". Bangkok Post. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. ↑ noname (wild) at Kaeng Krachan National Park Archived May 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Wongruang, Piyaporn (2013-05-05). "Elephant slaughter: The gangs get bold". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. ↑ 5 park officials wanted for poaching elephants - Witness 'saw carcass burnt' at Kaeng Krachan (Thailand) Archived August 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Young elephant dies in fatal electrocution". The Nation. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
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