General information  Highlights Nature trail Getting there
	The last remaining virgin         rainforest in Phuket
			Visitor attractions

       Wildlife observations are unpredictable during forest treks, there can be no guaranteed sightings. Even with the most knowledgeable of lecturers, there is still a chance you may not have any wildlife encounters. It is best not toraise expectations too high as wild animals have adapted to become invisible for their own protection. However, there are certain species which are commonlyfound, elements permitting. The trained ecological lecturers are well attuned to the habitats of hundreds of different species and will be keeping an eye out for any tell tale signs which could lead to a successful sighting.

"Yoge and Arun enjoying the climber fruits of
Uvaria grandiflora." (M0007 @Suwit Punnadee)

Fauna and Flora

Gibbons

       Wild gibbons have disappeared altogether from the forests of Phuket since the 1980s due to loss of habitat and poaching for the tourist and pet trades. Currently only 18 (4 family groups) successfully re-introduced gibbons can be found in the forest. The Hope group ismost commonly reported around the Wang Sai area, which is part of their continuously expanding territory. They were the first family successfully released in 2002. The family currently consists of 6 members, three of whom were wild born. The second family, the Arun group, released just one year later in 2003, also has 5 members with two wild born. This family is sometimes spotted by visitors along the circular path of Bang Pae nature-education trail in the direction of the sub-station; their territory is also slowly expanding with increased knowledge of the forest.

       The third family is the Payu group released in 2007, which now has 4 members. The re-introduction occured after some years of complications with the release program, where some members from newly released families integrated into families already living in the forest. The Payu group can be seen sometimes along the trail from Wang Sai to Ton Sai waterfall. The fourth family, the Tony group was just released on 10 December 2009, and has 3 members. The release site is located quite far away from the nature education trail, so visitors are not likely to find them but may hear their song.

"Clump of Palm Lang Kaw" (P0003 @Owart Maprang)

Endemic species

       1. Palm Lang Kaw (Kerriodoxa elegans J.Dransf.)
       This charming palm was first discovered in KPT. Its large, fan-shaped leaf is similar to the leaf of a palmyra palm with deep dentate edges, black petiole, and milky white underside. The stem grows to 7 metres tall. The species naturally grows and spreads over rainforests. It preferably inhabits areas close to a stream, under shade and with little wind disturbance. Palm lang kaw is categorised as an endemic species, rare and endangered. Its suitable ecosystem has deteriorated and thus its natural reproduction has also been limited. The species was first discovered here on 11 March 1929. After that, the species was also found in deep areas of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani Province, and Khlong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary in Ranong Province. To discover Palm lang kaw in these other two forests, it requires a day-and-night walk across the mountains.

       Some leaves look very different from the other species in the Palmae Family. They are not straight and extended in a fan shape, but are partially cracked down. Thus each of them looks somewhat like a disfigured coop. Some lesser short-nosed fruit bats might hang upside down from the underside of these leaves. They are the cause of this bizarre leaf shape. The bats gnaw the leaf veins thus cracking the blades.

  "Roosting Lesser short-nosed fruit bats seen
hanging beneath a palm leaf." (M0008 @Owart Maprang)

      2. Mak tok thalang (Iguanura thalangensis C.K. Lim.)
       This attractive solitary palm is found in the understory of the forest. It is a small sized species growing to about 1-2 m tall, 1.5 cm in diameter, having stilt roots and a grey green crownshaft. The leaves are quadrilaterally shaped, irregularly pinnate, with toothed margins. The inflorescence usually emerges within the leaf crown. The fruit is egg-shaped, colored white or red, and carries one seed which usually takes the shape of the endocarp.

      
    "Iguanura thalangensis and clump of Pinanga watanaiana." (P00044, P0005 @Suwit Punnadee)

       3. Je bai lai (Pinanga watanaiana C.K. Lim.)
       The attractive mottled leaf palm forms clumps in the understory of forest; this is another small sized species growing to about 2 m tall. The trunks are quite slender at 1-2 cm in diameter with attractive, light green, ringed trunks, topped by a long, grey-green coloured crownshaft.     

       4. Phuket Round-eyed Gecko (Cnemaspis phuketensis)
        They have round pupils, distinct eyelids all around the eye, and slender, clawed digits which are cylindrical. This gecko shows distinct white-tipped conical tubercles on the flank. It is diurnal and terrestrial or associated with rocks or fallen logs.

     
       "Phuket round-eyed gecko basking in the sun, and the reddish Waterfall crab eating a dropped ripe fruit of Leea indica on the streambank sand." (R0001, O001 @Suwit Punnadee)

       5. Waterfall Crab (Phricotelphusa limula)
       A tiny reddish creature with two little claws, one a little bit bigger than the other. Its body is about 1-2 centimeters wide with long legs, which enable it to move quickly. This fresh-water crab was first found in Phuket Province in 1882. 

      They live underneath the stones in  the shallow part of a fast-running stream. Crabs only crawl to either their left or right side and have very sensitive eyes that make them quickly crawl to their stone-shelter after being disturbed. Like many other crustaceans, crabs are often omnivorous and act as scavengers, helping to clean up the ecosystem. However sometimes they hunt a small animal such as a caecilian, earth worm, termite etc.

Others species abundance and diversity

        
         "A female and baby Slow loris foraging in the wild banana clump, and a Marked sping lizard feeding on a katydid." (M0009 @Suwit Punnadee; R0003 @Phamon Sumphanthamitr)

         
         "Violin beetles foraging for small insects along the forest floor, and a Speckle-headed whip snake fedding on a forest frog." (I0001 @Suwit Punnadee; R0002 @Phamon Sumphanthamitr)

        
         "A Smith's litter frog foraging during rainfall, and Coppersmith Barbet foraging on the fig tree. (A0001, B0003 @Suwit Punnadee)

                                    see more photos and details on the Biodiversity pages.

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Points of Interest

       1. Bang Pae waterfall ...water droplets tumbling down from the precipice

       The waterfall can be found just 500 meters from the park entrance, after a gentle uphill incline through the forest fringe. The path runs parallel to the boulder-clad stream leading from the waterfall; there are many pools formed by the boulders that are ideal for a quick dip to cool off. Though the waterfall may not be as impressive in size as others, it is still very beautiful and refreshing.The water cascades down the 17-metre tall precipice, crashing into the rocky valley below. Some water evaporates into vapour and with the cool forest breeze these tiny droplets merge causing a glossy shine on the surrounding area.

                        "Resting after a cool down
                            in Bang Pae waterfall."
                   (K0013 @Phamon Sumphanthamitr)

       While taking a rest on the rocks in the middle of this beautiful valley, see if you can spot the Reddish waterfall crabs. Cast your eyes from the ground to the tops of the trees and look for fruits or tiny animals on the forest floor. A fishing spider stands on the water's surface, while a water grasshopper flies down to a rock. Look up to a mountain slope and see the beautiful scenery of a large variety of native plants surrounding you, such as wild banana (Musa sp), Bamboo (Gigantochloa sp), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema sp), Crape gingers (Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm.), Streblus ilicifolius (Vidal) Corner, Poikilospermum sp, Sterculia sp, Mallotus sp.

        2. Wangsai ...origin of the waterfall and unidentified flora

       Wangsai is a small tranquil basin in the middle of the forest where variously sized streams meet. It overflows to form the Bang Pae waterfall. The pleasant atmosphere at the rim of this still basin is attractive and brings trekking visitors to a halt. Look around for something to sit on - either rocks, mounds, tree roots or logs. Have a rest and listen to the gentle flow of water along streams and songs from animals.

Taking a break half way at Wangsai.
(K0013 @Phamon Sumphanthamitr) 

       Do not feel afraid if you hear sounds unrecognizable to you or see gibbons. This spot is in their territory. They are now wild. The beautiful scenery includes an abundance of native plants such as rattan, Bird's nest fern, Fish tail palm (Caryota mitis Lour.), Wild grape (Tetrastigma sp.), Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr., Dasymaschalon blumei (Bl.) Finet & Gagnep., Fagraea racemosa Jack, Bolbitis sp.

        3. Ton Sai waterfall ...a beautiful waterfall in a perfect nature education site

       This waterfall is not very big but it is set in a wonderfully scenic spot. During the rainy season a great volume of water pours over it. There is an exhibition hall at the KC centre, which provides information about the forest. Alternatively, visitors may stroll around looking at trees and birds, or walk along the other two nature-education trails. These are not too strenuous and each is formed as a circular route leading you back to where you started. This is a great area for those who are interested in rainforest plants as there are many species including a clump of Palm Lang Kaw (Kerriodoxa elegans J.Dransf.), Dendrocnide sinuate (Miq.) Chew, Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R.Parker, Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm., Stelechocarpus cauliflorus (Scheff.) R. E. Fr., Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz, Hunteria zeylanica (Retz.) Gardner ex Thwaits., Mycetia malayana (G.Don) Craib, Michelia champaca L., Vitex glabrata R.Br., Alpinia malaccensis (Burm.) Roscoc, Chloranthus sp, Phrynium sp. Many of these species are not found in the other parts of this forest.

          
                             Phrynium sp                                     Stelechocarpus cauliflorus

         
                          Mycetia malayana                                    Alpinia malaccensis
                                                                    (P0006, P0007, P0008, P0009 @Suwit Punnadee)

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