Rare and Endangered species of the Khao Sok national park

This area of Thailand that we now call Khao Sok has always been remote and inaccessible. The result, an incredible explosion of nature. Being so remote we find many unique and even endemic species. However, changes in the environment and the encroachment of people put many of these species at risk. This article lists some of the endangered animals and other rare and endangered species of the Khao Sok national park in Thailand.

The dramatic limestone topography makes access to this area extremely difficulty. It is the fundamental reason why there is such a phenomenal number of unique or rare species here. In the 1970s, student activists set up a stronghold in the Khao Sok jungle. At this time commercial loggers and miners were plundering many of the more remote areas of Thailand. The activists kept them out of the forests of Khao Sok, further preserving the nature that lived here. The students were eventually pardoned and in 1980 the Khao Sok national park was formed.

This was closely followed by construction of the Rajaprabha Dam. It was seen as catastrophic for wildlife at the time. For example it is estimated that 52 species of fish were lost, mainly by the stagnation of the Pasaeng River as it morphed into the Cheow Lan lake. Despite this, the resultant landscape is now home to an extraordinary number and diversity of species. The Cheow Lan lake now provides access to the furthest reaches of the Khao Sok national park. It has become a natural playground that is high on the bucket lists of travellers to Thailand. An amazing number of people can now witness this incredible diversity.

Unfortunately there is a downside to all this human activity. Encroachment around the park damages the natural habitats that these endangered plants and animals depend on. Changes in climate and weather patterns put even more pressure on the wildlife of Khao Sok national park. Below we will attempt to list the endangered animals, birds, fish and plants that you might still be able to enjoy during your Khao Sok national park adventures.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global network of Environmental networks, combining over 1000 governments and NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) from over 160 countries. We use their categories as shown here:

Extinct – no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died

Extinct in the Wild – only surviving in captivity

Critically Endangered – facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

Endangered – facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild

Vulnerable – facing a high risk of extinction in the wild

Near Threatened – close to or is likely to qualify for a threatened category

Least Concern – widespread and abundant

Near Threatened Animals

• Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
• Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor)

Vulnerable Animals

• Gaur (Bos gaurus)
• Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis)
• Spectacled Langur (Trachypithecus obscurus ssp. obscurus)
• Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)

Endangered Animals

• Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
• Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar)
• Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
• Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)
• Balabac Mouse Deer (Tragulus nigricans)
• Asian arowana fish (Scleropages formosus)
• Leaping barb fish (Laubuca caeruleostigmata)

Critically Endangered Animals

• Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
• Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica)
• Banteng (Bos javanicus)
• Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas)
• Giant featherback fish (Chitala lopis)

Pangolin
Manis javanica

Banteng
Bos javanicus

Mekong Giant Catfish
Pangasianodon gigas

Near Threatened Plants

Vulnerable Plants

• Palm – Maxburretia furtadoana
• Sedge – Khaosokia cariocoides

Endangered Plants

• Rafflesia kerrii
• Godefroy’s Paphiopedilum (Paphiopedilum godefroyae)
• White Backed Palm (Kerriodoxa elegans)
• Yang Na tree
• Lingzhi Mushroom

Critically Endangered Plants

• Orchid – Paphiopedilum exul

Rafflesia kerrii

Orchid
Paphiopedilum exul

White Backed Palm
Kerriodoxa elegans

Information from: https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/       http://www.exoticbirding.com/thailand/khao-sok/checklist.html 

Near Threatened Birds

• Chestnut-bellied Malkoha  (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus)
• Black-bellied Malkoha  (Phaenicophaeus diardi)
• Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo  (Hierococcyx vagans)
• Gould’s Frogmouth  (Batrachostomus stellatus)
• River Lapwing  (Vanellus duvaucelii)
• Bar-tailed Godwit  (Limosa lapponica)
• Red-necked Stint  (Calidris ruficollis)
• Oriental Darter  (Anhinga melanogaster)
• Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii)
• Lesser Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis)
• Barred Eagle-Owl (Ketupa sumatrana)
• Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii)
• Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus)
• Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher  (Ceyx erithaca)
• Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo peninsulae)
• Brown-winged Kingfisher (Pelargopsis amauroptera)
• Rufous-collared Kingfisher (Actenoides concretus)
• Sooty Barbet (Caloramphus hayii)
• Red-throated Barbet (Psilopogon mystacophanos)
• Buff-necked Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tukki)
• Olive-backed Woodpecker  (Gecinulus rafflesia)
• Green Broadbill  (Calyptomena viridis)
• Black-and-yellow Broadbill  (Eurylaimus ochromalus)
• Malayan Banded-Pitta (Hydrornis irena)
• Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha)
• Fiery Minivet (Pericrocotus igneus)
• Maroon-breasted Philentoma  (Philentoma velata)
• Green Iora  (Aegithina viridissima)
• Crested Jayshrike  (Platylophus galericulatus)
• Malaysian Rail-babbler  (Eupetes macrocerus)
• Streaked Bulbul  (Ixos malaccensis)
• Puff-backed Bulbul  (Microtarsus eutilotus)
• Gray-bellied Bulbul  (Rubigula cyaniventris)
• Scaly-breasted Bulbul  (Rubigula squamata)
• Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler  (Macronus ptilosus)
• Black-throated Babbler  (Stachyris nigricollis)
• Chestnut-rumped Babbler  (Stachyris maculata)
• Rufous-crowned Babbler  (Malacopteron magnum)
• Short-tailed Babbler  (Pellorneum malaccense)
• White-chested Babbler  (Pellorneum rostratum)
• Brown Fulvetta  (Alcippe brunneicauda)
• Zappey’s Flycatcher  (Cyanoptila cumatilis)
• Large Blue Flycatcher  (Cyornis magnirostris)
• Chestnut-naped Forktail  (Enicurus ruficapillus)
• Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker  (Prionochilus thoracicus)
• Red-throated Sunbird  (Anthreptes rhodolaemus)
• Lesser Green Leafbird  (Chloropsis cyanopogon)
• Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophoga ichthyaetus)

Vulnerable Birds

• Great Argus  (Argusianus argus)
• Chinese Egret  (Egretta eulophotes)
• Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle  (Nisaetus nanus)
• Black Hornbill  (Anthracoceros malayanus)
• Wreathed Hornbill  (Rhyticeros undulatus)
• Plain-pouched Hornbill  (Rhyticeros subruficollis)
• Black-capped Kingfisher  (Halcyon pileate)
• Great Slaty Woodpecker  (Mulleripicus pulverulentus)
• Gray-cheeked Bulbul  (Alophoixus tephrogenys)
• Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher  (Cyornis brunneatus)

Endangered Birds

• Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
• Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)
• White-crowned Hornbill  (Berenicornis comatus)
• Greater Green Leafbird  (Chloropsis sonnerati)
• Buff-rumped Woodpecker  (Meiglyptes rammithorax)
• Tenggara Hill Myna  (Gracula venerata)
• Blue-winged Leafbird  (Chloropsis moluccensis)

Critically Endangered Birds

• Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil)
• Javan Blue-Banded Kingfisher (Alcedo euryzona)

Helmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil

Javan Blue-Banded Kingfisher
Alcedo euryzona

Blue-winged Leafbird
Chloropsi moluccensis

Rewilding returns a habitat to its original, natural condition as far as possible. We find that with just a little help nature has the ability to fix itself and recover balance. This is how it works:

• Reintroduce and promote native species.
• Reduce the impact of invasive species. They often succeed at the expense of more fragile endemic species.
• Increase biodiversity.
• Reintroduce keystone species that help to balance the natural habitat.
• Create corridors that reconnect fragmented habitats.
• Restrict access to areas under regeneration.

More rewilding projects are needed in order to maintain the habitats of endangered animals and endangered species in Khao Sok national park.

1. The money raised from tourism in the National Park is vital for ecological projects that support natural habitats.
2. Eco-tourism can be carefully organized and managed in ways that sustain the environment and local habitats.
3. We recognize areas of concern in the park and monitor human activity there.
4. We inform more people of the plight of endangered species in the national Park and Cheow lan lake.

In this way we can preserve disappearing habitats. Responsible tourists can support the endangered species in Khao Sok national park.

Let’s try and preserve them for the next visitors eager to wonder at the extraordinary diversity of wildlife of Khao Sok.