WESTERN FOREST CONSERVATION CLUB
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West Thungyai Wildlife Monitoring by WWF

                        15^th May 2006, WFCC traveled to Tilaipa village to participate WWF meeting on West Thungyai Wildlife Monitoring Project. Since 2005, the project was originated by  WWF under cooperation of Wildlife Reservation Volunteers Group from Jakae and Tilaipa village. The group was firstly initiated under name Forest Protector of Jakae and then formally subscribed by Thungyai WS as “Thungyai Wildlife Reservation Volunteers Group”

                       It was not easy to travel to Tilaipa, especially during the beginning of rainy season. The track leaded us to drive across the rocky Rokee stream for 18 times before climbed up to the high steep Angel Hill and Peacock Hill. The track uphill normally turned to be extremely steep and slippery in rainy season. And, it might be the reason of why Mr. Robert; the leader of biology field of WWF leaded his followers; Term and Por, started walking to the 50 km far away Tilaipa village since in the early morning. 

                          Oil price had been continuously risen while transportation in Thungyai still in need. To economize transportation cost, WFCC therefore took the chance of meeting participation to carry some food, medical and other supplies to donate for each station along the way. Also a 750 liter stainless water tank donated by Hlaihonghuad; a construction material store in Nakornprathom, was transported to settle at Hermit hill radio network communication station.

                          Mr. Keng, WFCC technician, traveled from eastern of Thailand to arrived WFCC office in Nakornprathom in the afternoon of 13rd May 2006. After all supplies were loaded and securely fastened, the trip began after 2 am of the following day, and then reached Sanepong wildlife protection station at around 8 am. There, we we visited rangers of Sanepong unit and donated some food and medical supplies we previously provided before continued the way to Koh Saderng. Along the way, we met Mr. Tool Suwan, head of Tilaipa wildlife protection station who was driving a motorcycle in following, headed to the same direction in expect to join the meeting as well as us.

                          After lunch and food with medical supplies already provided for Koh Saderng station, we continued the way together with Mr. Tool. It started to rain after we left Koh Saderng for a while. Mr. Keng at that time took the first time of driving in Thungyai and, through the route we had never been before. He tried his best to control the full-loaded truck carefully to pass each obstacle as well as to beware of any wildlife that may walk across the road as we saw its recent sign along the way.

                            When we reached a stream where passenger often makes a stop, we met the group of Mr. Robert who had started walking since the early morning as to join the meeting. We took a brief conversation with them and then carried their belongings into the water tank on the back of truck. Then the group kept walking ahead while Mr. Keng our driver was forcing the truck climb uphill with Mr. Tool’s who helped being the navigator. We arrived at Tilaipa station at about 6 pm. It was just 30 minutes before arrival on foot of Mr. Robert’s team.

                            After breakfast, WFCC together with Tilaipa rangers walked to public hall of Tilaipa village to attend the meeting. There were altogether 52 attendees from several parties such as; villagers from Tilaipa Jakae Kongmongta Saderng, officers from Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, the headmaster of Tilaipa border police school, rangers from Tilaipa and Jakae station. While awaiting the time to begin, Mr. Robert, Por, and Term prepared charts and other media on wall of the public hall. When all were ready, Mongpe; the most senior of Tilaipa village, launched a welcome speech in Karen primitive language which I could not understand. Then, Mr. Robert continued the meeting. Once he said;

                             "...The WWF wildlife monitoring meeting is objected to assess tendency of wildlife population in west Thungyai bases on wildlife data which had been collected by Thungyai Wildlife Reservation Volunteers Group from Jakae and Tilaipa village during the past three years…”

                   After his speech, the total wildlife database was presented by Thungyai Wildlife Reservation Volunteers Group. Altogether 10 species of wildlife had been recorded that are; elephant, tiger, leopard, bear, guar, wild boar, samba, red muntjac, tapir, and Cuon alpinus. Then, all the data was analyzed onto conclusion form. After that, the representative from each group reported the conclusion of their wildlife data collective walking patrol to the meeting. (see details in chart at the bottom page) The form of wildlife data collection specifies some information needs to be filled-in during their survey. For example; date of survey, geographic position, landscape and conditions, wildlife species, wildlife signs and all details, etc. The routes or target areas were specified before leaving. Every time of walking patrol by the villages’ volunteers group, Mr. Robert, Term, and Por who have experienced on wildlife survey and research would join the mission to monitor their work and give them instruction.

                             After morning period of meeting, all attendees together had lunch which prepared by Mr. Robert and his crews. It began to rain when the afternoon as well as in the previous days. When the falling rain diminished, the meeting was again begun.

                             It was time for discussion and exchange idea. Representatives from all section showed their opinion toward the project even villagers from Kongmongta who came to join the meeting as observers. In conclusion, we got some ideas which shall be push to be effective that are; to extend the target area, to work on public relation through eastern villages such as Maejanta Talaklong Songpae and Kroengbor to see the advantage of villagers unification through wildlife preservation in the area they are living and nearby. Moreover, we shall ask for cooperation from Lijia, Takienthong, Puyei, and especially Pujue village which is a major entrance for poachers.

                                Mr. Soi, the representative volunteer from Jakae village discussed about a problem of field operation is communication equipment shortage. On this regards, WFCC proposed Mr. Robert WFCC would provide 2 handheld radio transceivers each for Tilaipa and Jakae village to reduce the trouble and support the field operation of the volunteers group as proposed, apart from some neccessary supplies WFCC supported to the Volunteers Group on 2002.

                               To empower all attendees and to extend their vision toward wildlife conservation task, before the meeting was closed Mr. Robert had described about wildlife reservation process in several countries worldwide which base on different principles, objectives and procedures. His description could enhance their international understanding and realization toward their task which bring advantage to worldwide, but most of all, it enhanced their pride on what they were doing.

                                 Ideally, the successful cooperation between WWF leads by Mr. Robert and Tilaipa-Jakae villagers through the project might bring more participants from other villagers nearby such like Kongmongta villagers who have planned to form a volunteers group within July 2006.

                                 Along the past three years of difficulties, Thungyai Wildlife Reservation Volunteers Group forced the mission through various troubles on equipment and all kind facilities shortage. This shows another social development of conservation task in community level that they were not just rely on or keep waiting for outside supports. On the other hand, they had struggled for all possibility to drive the project to be effective by their strong awareness of forest and wildlife in mind by themselves. Uncle Mong-Pe, the old man who is the leader of all sense of Tilaipa villager. Soilaji, a new generation from Jakae whose contains strong intention to protect his local landscape and wildlife. These shall be the main key to lead social attitude to the direction of sustainable conservation which firmly originated from the root.  

                                  The several progressive ideas presented to the meeting, in conclusion, mainly focused on public relation activities which suppose to plant nature awareness to public by presenting the procedure and result of the project, also to bring outside participation to achieve the ideal sustainable conservation. To encourage this idea, WWF will support PR on printings and WWF website, as well as WFCC will report all movement of the group via WFCC website to retain and publicize their valuable local conservative force; not just like being such a tale or a photo which may vanish someday by the time past.

Surin / report
Translated by Nutthinee Jerachasilp

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