Khao Yai National Park is located in Thailand. It was created in 1962 as Thailand's first national park. It is the third largest national park in Thailand.
History
Khao Yai National Park was created on September 18, 1962, by royal proclamation in the Government Gazette. It became Thailand's first national park. Boonsong Lekagul played an important role in its creation. The park was named after the former tambon, Khao Yai.
In 1984, Khao Yai National Park was designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park. On July 14, 2005, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex, along with other national parks in the same mountain range and the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains to the north.
As areas near the park are being developed with luxury hotels and golf courses, obtaining land for future wildlife protection has become difficult. Homes and villas have been built illegally within the protected forest area. Illegal logging is also a problem in the region.
Geography
Khao Yai National Park is the third largest park in Thailand, covering an area of about 2,166 km² (836 sq mi). Khao Rom is the highest mountain in the park, with an elevation of 1,351 meters (4,432 feet). Because the mountain has a spiral shape, it is also called Khao Laem (เขาแหลม; Lit: Spiky Mountain). Khao Laem is the second highest mountain in the park, with Khao Rom being the tallest. Like Khao Rom, hikers must walk to reach the top of Khao Laem. It takes at least 7 hours to climb to the peak. Before reaching the highest point, climbers must also ascend a rope.
Khao Yai National Park has three main seasons, with an average yearly temperature of 23 °C. Temperatures change depending on the season:
- Rainy Season (May–October): Most days have heavy rain. The air is very humid, with daytime temperatures averaging 27 °C and nighttime temperatures dropping to 13 °C. Streams flow strongly during this time.
- Cool Season (November–February): The weather is clear and cool, with sunny days. Daytime temperatures average 22 °C, and nighttime temperatures drop to 10 °C. This is a good time for hiking.
- Hot Season (March–April): The weather is humid, with daytime temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and nighttime temperatures averaging 17 °C.
Fauna
Khao Yai National Park is home to many animals, including the Asian elephant, gibbons, pig-tailed macaque, muntjacs, and sambar deer. Other large animals found in the park are barking deer, porcupine, and civet. Occasionally, visitors may see sun bear, Asian black bear, gaur, otter, dhole, and golden jackal. In early 2017, it was announced that 18 tigers, including five males, seven females, and six cubs, were recorded by surveillance cameras in the Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai World Heritage Site during June 2016 and February 2017. The last time tigers were seen by surveillance cameras in Khao Yai National Park was in 2002.
Visitors
According to the Department of National Parks (DNP), which manages Khao Yai National Park, the number of visitors has increased from 671,569 in 2008 to over 1.2 million in 2016. Between October 2015 and September 2016, 471,514 vehicles entered the park. Heavy traffic has caused some people to suggest closing the park to private cars. During one of the busiest times, New Year’s week from December 30 to January 3, 2016, the park received 156,574 visitors. These visitors left more than 23 tonnes of waste behind. Because litter was a major problem, the park began sending the litter back to the homes of visitors who left it in 2020.