 |
||||||
|
|
||||||
Thai Version Click Here
|
||||||
|
|
January 7-8, 2006, WFCC visited Mr. Saksit Simchareon; the head of Khao Nangrum Wildlife Research Station, at Huai Khakhaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, aimed to hold a progression meeting regarding Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Track Survey Project. During the meeting, WFCC reported current status and consult about working direction of Thungyai Tiger Survey Project which Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has started survey schedule since 1997.
WFCC departed from Nakornprathom on January 7, 2005 at 1.30 pm, arrived Huai Khakhaeng Wildlife Sanctuary at 5.30 pm. During the way to khao Nangrum Wildlife Research Station, we found a new signage stand engraving a quotation of a well known heroic conservationist of Thailand, Seub Nakhasatien, to encourage nature awareness of visitors. Nearby, the 4 commemorative pillars to the 4 passed away officers who died during their duty of protecting Huai Khakhaeng were obviously improved.
500 meters from Subfahpha Wildlife Checkpoint, we stopped the car to find out wildlife carcass as we smelled following wind direction. However, resource was not found. We continued our way, and, reached the research station at around 7 pm. There, Mr. Saksit together with 2 officers, were waiting. Few minutes after resting, the meeting was held, started with Thungyai Wildlife Track Survey Presentation, reported by Mr. Pranuch; the project explorer. After reported, Mr. Saksit questioned several issues about Thungyai Naresuan site. Then, he suggested us to extend the project area from 200 sq.m, to be 300 sq.m. Trapping camera installation was estimated to be process after next year forest fire season. Mr. Pranuch perceived his advisory to be set in his working plan. We had dinner together and separated to bed.
Temperature reduced to 10 degrees in early of the next morning January 8, 2006. WFCC walked uphill to Mr. Saksit’s home and had morning coffee together beside bonfire. Mr. Saksit informed about a leopard that came to walk around the camp just before the dawn, but none of us saw it. We inspected its footprints for a while before having breakfast together.
On this opportunity, WFCC donated the second computer to support survey & research projects of Khao Nangrum Wildlife Research Station. The research station has more and more database as time passed, and it was necessary to has such effective equipment; such as computers, trapping cameras, collars, etc. The high technology collar the research station required nowadays is very expensive since it was developed to support recorder and GPRS. By such high technology, their officer can easily keep an eye on tigers’ position by satellite. However, any type of collar requires high batteries capacity to support its high consumption. When its battery was used up, the collar will auto unlock and left itself from tiger’s neck so that they can pick up to change. Not only expensive, collar batteries are needed to be turned by England. To economize the research station budget, Mr. Thanabodi Urarak (Mr. Keng) offered to inspect and study its function if we can change them on our own. Moreover, Mr. Keng offered to produce the mobile folded antenna for tiger tracking so that they do not need to spend such long time during import.
Before leaving the research station, WFCC visited Huai Khakhaeng’s solar house. Mr. Keng studied its system and equipments to applied and access for Maharaja wildlife protection station at Thungyai Naresuan, as scheduled to process during February 2006. Then, we visited the house of wildlife carcasses. There were several species displayed, but the most astonishing one was a skull of a tapir that looked strange and we have never seen before. We said goodbye to Mr. Saksit around 11:00 am. that day. During the way back, we found an adult fox ran directly close to our way. At the first sight, we assumed it was a domesticate dog because its appearance was very close to German Shepherd. It has straight up triangle ears with cluster tail. Different from fox in Thungyai, its entire upperparts from collar through tail tip spotted with black on its rufous fur.
When we reached the head office of Huai Khakhaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, we met Mr. Tor-khet. We discussed about the journey of the next mission of radio system improvement at Yuyee radio communication center. During the discussion, we met Mr. Chatchaval Phitdamkham; the Chief in command of Huai Khakhaeng. Mr. Chatchaval Phitdamkham is an honorable faithful forest department officer who had devoted and experienced in conservation field for decades. During lunch, he said: “Through several projects all of us have held for years, government had spent over baht billions in order to save a tiger.” Moreover, he revealed his opinion toward working in conservation field; “After Mr. Seub passed away, the followers should seriously study his idea to set their working direction. They should know what he had thought and they should know what he supposed to do if he still alive.”
Even Seub has no chance to see prosperity of conservation in Thailand as he had dreamed when he still alive; his dream and faith was continued by followers who devotedly work at the present. The holistic idea of forest management entitled “The Western Forest Complex" was proposed to be set as main strategy of conservation process. Also, it had powerfully inspired establishment of over hundreds conservation groups throughout Thailand. The new associations help driving this idea to reach its achievement of sustainable natural and wildlife conservation.
Not only Huai Khakhaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, also other association takes part on preserving the area such as; Natural World Heritage Site Ecosystem Management Project; a collaborative section who works hardly for the same achievement. Even by very few officers, the project launched several figurative works leaded by Mr. Pairoj Sim-Chareon.
Surin / reported
|
|||||
|
About WFCC Activities Wildlife Sanctuary Bird Photo Gallery Support Projects Main Page
|
||||||
