Khao Yai National Park - University of Hong Kong

Khao Yai

National Parkเขาใหญ่

Photo by Kevin

Introduction

Aim of the trip

• To investigate:

- biodiversity (mammals and birds)

- nature reserve management

in Khao Yai National Park (KYNP)

Reasons of choosing KYNP

• Climate: dry season

• Rich biodiversity

• Different latitude of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Khao Yai National Park

http://www.gate1travel.com/southeast-asia

Location• Lies in Nakhon

Ratchasima, Saraburi, Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok provinces

• ~ 200 km NE of Bangkok

• ~2.5hrs drive from Bangkok

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/north_east/ky.htm#kyai

Background

• “Khao Yai” = “A big mountain” in Thai

• 1st national park (since September 18, 1962)

• 3rd largest park in Thailand (2168 km2)

• Altitude: 400 – 1351 m above sea level

Photo by SammiPhoto by Wing

Photo by Billy

Habitats

• 5 vegetation zones:

– Evergreen rainforest (100 to 400m)

– Semi-evergreen rainforest (400 to 900m)

– Mixed deciduous forest

(northern slopes at 400 to 600m)

– Hill evergreen forest (over 1,000m)

– Grassland and secondary-growth forest

Seasons• Rainy Season:

– May – October

– Rains most days, clear cool weather

• Cool Season:

– November – February– 10oC at night, clear skies

• Hot Season:

– March – April

– ~30oC, hot and dry

Biodiversity

• ~ 3000 plants species

• > 340 birds species

• ~ 67 mammals species

• > 200 butterflies species

Accommodation• Park bungalows

Photo by SammiPhoto by Wing

Facilities

All Photo by Sammi

We @ Bungalow No. 101

Some of our meals in KYNP

Trails

http://www.djparadisetour.com/eKhaoYai.html

• 13 trails

in the park

• we visited: 3

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/north_east/ky.htm#kyai

Trails

Photo by Sammi

Photo by Wing

We @ One of the Trails

Photo by Wing

Billy @ the bridge of the trail next to Park Office

Photo by Sammi

Photo by Sammi

Watchtower

Photo by Wing

Photo by Wing

Photo by Sammi

Old Golf Course

Photo by Sammi

Birds

Targets

• What are our targets?

• We have discussed and come out with these…

Credit: Kanit Khanikul 2003

Credit: Mervin Quah 2007

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Credit: David Sewell 2005

Hornbills

• We saw 2 species!

1. Oriental Pied hornbill

2. Great hornbill

• Distributed widely in the oriental region

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris

• Where we see it, what it is doing

- on fruit trees, in flocks of around __ individuals

• Wide range of habitats

• omnivorous

• Usually in flocks (quite large)

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris

Photo by Billy

Photo by Beetle

Great HornbillBuceros bicornis (subspecies homrai)

• Where we see, what is it doing:

- in a forest

- 1 individual flying pass

• Wide range of habitats

• omnivorous

• Usually in pairs or small groups

• IUCN – Near Threatened

Great HornbillBuceros bicornis (subspecies homrai)

Lip KeeNeko Sam

Woodpeckers

• We met:

1. Greater Flameback

2. Greater Yellownape

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus

• Where we see:

- on dead tree trunks in a savanna

- 3 individuals

• Male:

- Red crown and crest

• Female:

- Black crown and crest with white spots

• Special voice (see the video) [ hyperlink ]

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus

Photo by Beetle

Photo by Billy

Greater YellownapePicus flavinucha

• Where we see:

- on a tree trunk

- 1 individual

Photo by Billy

Barbets

• Where we see:

- high in trees, at canopy level

• Feeding: fruits and insects

• Distinguish between species:

- usually by colourful patterns on head and throat

More about barbets’ like photos

Photo by Billy

Blue-eared BarbetMegalaima australis

Moustached Barbet

Magalaima incognita

Photo by Kelvin

Asian Fairy-bluebirdIrena puella

• Where we see, what is it doing: - in pair- eating fruits

• Feed on fruits, nectar and some insects

• habitat: moist hill forest

• usually in pairs or small flocks

Photo by Billy

Photo by Beetle

Asian Fairy-bluebirdIrena puella

Thick-billed Green PigeonTreron curvirostra

• Where we see, what is it doing:

- on a fruit tree

- solitary

• eat mainly fruits

• Wide range of habitats

Photo by Teresa

Babbler• Where we see, what is it doing

- usually alone- sometimes mixed in other birds flock

• all we saw are belong to the same family (Timaliidae)

• Tropical, greatest variety in south east Asia

• subtropical / tropical moist lowland forests

• eat insects

Abbott’s BabblerTrichastoma abbotti

All Photo by Billy

Other Babblers

Puff-throated Babbler

Pellorneum ruficeps

Striped Tit-babbler

Macronous gularis

Photo by Kelvin

Photo by Billy

Red-headed TrogonHarpactes erythrocephalus

• Where we see, what it is doing:

- don’t know, I haven’t seen it

• Oriental region distributed

• Feed on insects and fruit

• Behavior:

- reluctant to fly any distance

- spend long periods sitting motionless

- Do not migrate Photo by Teresa

Other birds’ great photos

+ Including those in Bangkok …

Black-crested BulbulPycnonotus melanicterus

Puff-throated Bulbul Criniger pallidus

Photo by Beetle

Photo by Kelvin

Bulbuls

Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi

Stripe-throated BulbulPycnonotus finlaysoni

BulbulsPhoto by Billy

Photo by Billy

Mountain Imperial PigeonDucula badia

Photo by Beetle

Beautiful Birds in Bangkok City

Black-naped OrioleOriolus chinensis

Coppersmith BarbetMegalaima haemacephaia

White-vented MynaAcridotheres javanicus

Photo by Flor

Photo by IvyPhoto by Teresa

Photo by Benny

Pied Fantail Rhipidura perlata Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra

Photo by Kelvin

Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Photo by Beetle

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis

Photo by Beetle

Mammals and other animals

Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak

All photo by Billy

Sambar Deer Cervus unicolor

Photo by Billy

Photo by Wing

Photo by Teresa

by ?

Photo by Billy

Sambar Deer Cervus unicolor

Variable SquirrelCallosciurus finlaysoni

Photo by Beetle

Photo by Billy

Photo by Kelvin

Burmese Striped Squirrel (BKK) Tamiops mcclellandi

All photo by Kelvin

Black Giant SquirrelRatufa bicolor

Photo by Billy

• CITES: Appendix II

• Found in canopy of evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest

• Prone to hunting

Photo by Beetle

Black Giant SquirrelRatufa bicolor

Photo by Billy

Malayan PorcupineHystrix brachyura

All photo by Billy

Asian Wild DogCuon alpinus

Photo by Billy

Pig-tailed MacaqueMacaca nemestrina

Photo by Kelvin

Photo by Billy

Photo by Wing

White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar

1

2

I am here

Photo by Billy

by Billy by BillyPhoto by Billy

White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar

by Billy

White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar

Photo by Billy

Asian ElephantElephas maximus

Photo by Billy

Asian ElephantElephas maximus

Photo by Sammi

Dark-sided Frog Rana nigrovittata

Photo by Billy

Berdmore' Chorus FrogMicrohyla berdmorei

Photo by Billy

Photo by Benny

Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator

Photo by Ivy

Photo by Billy

Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator

Some other Reptiles

Photo by FlorPhoto by Flor

Photo by Wing

Some ButterfliesPhoto by Billy Photo by Sarah

Photo by Wing

Spiders & Some Other Insects…

All Photo by Wing

After Trip Comments

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Tour guide

- Rich experience in bird watching

- Visit prohibited areas

Photo by Wing

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Night Safari

- Lead by a local guide

- Introduce animals during the journey

Photo by Wing

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Trails

- Information boards about the plants and knowledge of ecology

Photo by Christine

Photo by Kevin

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Fire break

- Deliberately burnt as grassland

- To serve as a fire break

Photo by Billy

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Park Usage

- Designated camping area

- Minimize the impact on the environment

Photo by Billy

After-trip comments to KYNP

• Park management

- Facilities are kept well

- Fence: protection of young plant

Photo by Billy

Photo by Billy

Thanks for coming!!

We welcome your

questions~

Photo by Wing