Thailand’s western forest complex
Thailand’s Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) is part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, the most threatened of the earth’s 34 biodiversity hotspots. It is a contiguous protected landscape extending through Thailand and Myanmar that includes 19 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries including two World Heritage sites and is the main biodiversity conservation corridor of the region. It is one of the largest protected territories in Southeast Asia covering over 18,000km2.
Because of its large size it supports diverse large mammal fauna, including the endangered Indochinese tiger, Indochinese dhole, clouded leopard, sun bear, 10 species of primates (including all of the regions macaque species), gaur, banteng, Asian water buffalo, Asian elephant, tapir, and four of Thailand’s deer species. Altogether 153 mammal species, 490 bird species, 41 reptiles, and 108 species of fish inhabit this last great primary wilderness of south east Asia.
