The Asian or Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus), is one of the three living species of elephant (worldwide), and the only living species of the genus Elephas. Asia is home to the 4 known living subspecies of Elephas, from the 25 known to science. All the world elephants are listed as endangered with habitat destruction being their main threat.

Elephas maximus indicusis the largest living land animal in Thailand. It is endangered, with up to 25,000 left in the world and approximately 1500 wild animals left in Thailand. This animal had been widely domesticated, and has been used in forestry in South and Southeast Asia for centuries. However, one must not mistake the supposed gentleness of the domesticated animals with the wild elephants. Wild elephants are perhaps the most dangerous mammal in Thailand and have killed humans in both Thap Lan National Park and Kaeng Krachan National Park, of Thailand, in recent years. They present an outstanding forcefulness and mastery of their territory to those lucky enough to see them in the wild. Thailand is blessed to have surviving wild populations of these magnificent creatures.

Here is a small sample of my sightings of wild elephants:

To see more images of wild elephants in Thailand, click here

When is the best time time to visit Thailand's National Park's?

Every year I ponder this a little a more as the common view is that the best time is December, January and February. Indeed trekkers all over Thailand are all eagerly awaiting the winter season so their camping and trekking can begin. This annual pilgrimage to the forests by many is based on one factor in my opinion and that is because it is the cool season. But is it it the best time to visit a national park in Thailand?

Thailand is a country that is blessed with large tracts of limestone throughout its borders making it a veritable treasure trove of caves, flowstones, stalactites, stalagmites, and other underground formations. Limestone has a quality in that whilst pure water cannot dissolve it rain water can because it has picked up carbon dioxide from the air and soil and turns the limestone into calcium bicarbonate. That process of dissolving creates, river paths, sink holes, swallow holes, grikes and when these areas collapse some spectacular cave systems can be formed. It is estimated that there are around 4000 known caves in Thailand, but even more are undiscovered in the forest protected limestone peaks of the country.

Here is a small sample of their beauty:

To see more images of caves in Thailand, click here

Khao Ang Rue Nai is a conservation zone covering 643,750 rai area in the Eastern Forest Complex - the last abundant piece of forest land of the East. It is the source of the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao, the Tanot Canal in Chanthaburi, and the Prasae River in Rayong. Geographically, the area is not very steep; it is about 30-150 m above sea level.

There are wild animals, such as elephant, gaur, deer, barking deer, banteng, porcupine, etc., and birds, such as Siamese fire back, great pied hornbill, etc. On this trail you will quite amazed by the amount of tracks from elephant, guar, banteng and deer - their comparative abundance is obvious and tracks are everywhere. There is a good chance of seeing mammals on this route in the early mornings and evenings

The toxic sea urchin Asthenosoma varium also known as an Indo Pacific Fire urchin, is an unlikely place for any animal to call home. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful echinoderms in the sea, this brightly coloured and magnificent urchin packs a painful punch for all but a few specialized commensal species.

So what is in it for these specialized homemakers?

Those two essential commodities to us all, food and shelter. Making a home amongst the poisonous spines and pedicellaria is not an easy undertaking but it provides the ultimate in protection from predators who do n’ot want to tangle with this painful urchin. Food is readily available as ocean plankton and detritus get caught up in the melee of spines.

Sawan waterfall is located in the Khaoen Sri Nakarin (or Khuean Srinagarindra) National Park in Kanchanaburi. Its a wonderful 7 tier limestone waterfall with the top tier being around 70 meters alone and is very impressive.

My first attempt to the waterfall at the beginning of the rainy season was halted by getting two 4WDs stuck in mud about 2 kilometers from the second ranger station. For this second attempt in the height of the rainy season the plan was to leave the vehicles at the first ranger station and hike in, which is what we did as it was not possible to get further in the vehicle due to REALLY bad track conditions.

For those willing to make the journey (a 12 km hike) to Lanhindard in Pang Sida National Park (see route to the crocodile release area here), the wild Cirrhopetalum lepidum orchids are now in bloom (November 2009).

Lanhindard has an area that is strewn with various wild orchids but it is not possible to tell what species until they bloom. This is the first I have seen in bloom in the area, and as you can see its quite different from your commonly cultivated Thai orchids. To locate the site head for the siamese crocodile release area and you will find the orchids on the trail in the last 100 meters before the release pen.

I am happy to announce that I have added a forum to the site to share information and tracks and trails on the various national parks in Thailand and their wildlife. The purpose is to share information. There is a lot of information available on the web - very good information. BUT there is also a lot of crud and misleading information on traveling in Thailand and her national parks. This forum is about sharing the good information and refining it further so its accurate.

Feel free to join the forum and share your information or insights - just follow this link to view the Forum for Trekking in Thailand's National Parks!

The Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ratchaburi province immediately north of the Kaeng Krachan National Park.

The sanctuary is contiguous with Kaeng Krachan National Park for much of its southern boundary and thus shares the same habitat types - ie. hill evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest. Mae Nam Phachi is a wildlife sanctuary, which is much more strictly protected area than a national park. Wildlife sanctuaries are designated to allow as free and undisturbed movement of animals as possible. Therefore they are open mainly for educational or scientific research or for volunteering and a special permit is necessary to normally required to enter a wildlife sanctuary - however Maenam Phachi has at least two trails that are open to public access.