Latest news with #DepartmentofNationalParks
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Park ranger captures breathtaking moment with elusive animal while on patrol — here's why experts say it's a good sign
A park ranger in Thailand encountered a majestic black panther calmly strolling through the Kaeng Krachan National Park one morning in May, the Idaho Statesman reported. The photos, shared on a Facebook post by Thailand's Department of National Parks, show multiple angles of a gallant black panther exploring the roads of the national park. Primarily nocturnal animals, black panthers — a collective term for a rare group of black leopards or jaguars, and occasionally pumas, with their distinct black coats — are active hunters at night. Their jet-black fur allows the animals to blend in with the night's surroundings. Black panthers typically sleep during the day, making this daytime encounter quite out of the ordinary, though not concerning. Park officials read this chance encounter as a positive sign. Judging by the animal's calm body language and its appearance in broad daylight, the park officials believed the black panther felt extremely comfortable on the land within the National Park, "[comfortable] enough to venture out when it won't be hidden," park officials said, per the Idaho Statesman. As an apex predator, or a larger predator at the top of the food chain, black panthers help keep the local ecosystem balanced, feeding on herbivores such as deer or wild boar that graze on the land. Controlling the population of such prey protects the vegetation from being overgrazed, allowing it to continue supporting local wildlife in the ecosystem, protecting the area's biodiversity. Though the park ranger's sighting of the black panther that morning is encouraging, black panthers are rare, with common leopards and jaguars earning vulnerable and near-threatened statuses due to declining populations. Trail cameras are powerful tools that can help with conservation efforts. They help to gauge the population health of endangered species while being minimally invasive in the environment. They can also monitor rehabilitation efforts in local ecosystems, helping more wildlife species to survive, such as pollinators, which protect the human food supply. Comments under the Department of National Parks' Facebook post were in the local language. The translation of one comment read: "Thank you for protecting the natural resources and wild animals to become the heritage of Thailand." The translation of another Facebook user's comment simply said, "very beautiful." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Enormous horned water mammals make a rare appearance on Thailand trail camera
The only herd of wild water buffalo left in Thailand made a rare appearance on camera at a wildlife sanctuary. The large mammals, with their distinct long curved horns, were captured on camera traps at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, according to a May 14 Facebook post from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Wildlife officials said that although this species, Bubalus arnee, looks like the domestic water buffalo, it is much larger and can be 6.5 feet tall when fully grown. The species lives in small herds and can be found in floodplains, swamps and riverside forests. They forage day and night for grass, tree leaves and bamboo shoots, officials said. Officials said Thailand's only population of wild water buffalo — made up of 69 individuals — is found in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Uthai Thani Province. The wild buffalo are at high risk of extinction, according to officials. They are one of 21 protected wildlife species under Thailand's Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019. The species faces threats from hunting, habitat loss, interbreeding with domestic cattle, and disease spread by domestic livestock, according to experts. Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is about a 185-mile drive northwest from Bangkok. Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Rare bear among creatures spotted on trail cam in Thailand park. See them forage
Spanning nearly 100 square miles, the forests of Si Phang Nga National Park are home to some of Thailand's most interesting creatures. From the forest floor to the tree canopies, wildlife officials are trying to get a better picture of the animals that call the park home, and a set of trail cameras are helping the cause, according to a May 12 news release from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Park officials recently looked through the images collected by the cameras spanning from April 10 to May 10 and were surprised by what they found, according to the post. The cameras caught five different major animal species foraging in the area, including some rare species. Most notably, an Asian black bear spent some time in front of the lens, officials said. The species is vulnerable and their numbers are decreasing, making their appearance in the park good news. Asian, or Asiatic, black bears have black to slightly brownish fur with a crescent moon shaped white mark on their chests, according to Britannica. They are found throughout southern Iran and into the Himalayas, as well as throughout southeastern Asia and Japan, Britannica says. The bears spend most of their time at higher elevations but spend their winters at lower elevations after putting on fat. The bears only forage in abundant, undisturbed environments, officials said, making their appearance in the park an indicator of successful conservation efforts. But while the black bear may be the giant of the forest, other much smaller animals also made their presence known. Officials said two male sambar deer, three female sambar deer, two large mouse-deer or tragulus, one male great argus pheasant, one female great argus pheasant and a troop of pig-tailed macaques were all recorded on the cameras. There has been a noticeable decline in poaching since regular patrols were performed in the park, officials said, and this work is evident through both male and female deer appearing on the cameras. Si Phang Nga National Park is located on the southern peninsula of Thailand, near the coast of the Andaman Sea. ChatGPT, an AI chat bot, was used to translate the Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rare creature named after ‘hundred-eyed giant' spotted showing off at Thai park
In a forest of southern Thailand, a rare creature walked into a sunlit clearing and approached a potential mate. The hopeful animal put on a 'remarkable' courting display — and a nearby trail camera captured its every movement. The dramatic footage shocked and excited wildlife officials. Wildlife rangers set up a trail camera in a forest clearing of Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary as part of their routine patrols, Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said in a May 14 Facebook post. When they returned to the site and checked the camera's footage, what they saw left them stunned: The trail camera had recorded the rare sight of a male great argus, a type of pheasant, showing off to a female. A 30-second video shows the male great argus approach the female, spread its wings in front of her and shake its feathers. A soft ruffling sound can be heard. The male repeats this behavior a few times before walking and then running around the female. The May 8 video shows the male bird's feathers gracefully trailing out behind him as he circles the female. The bird stops on the other side of the female and fans his wings again, this time almost directly facing the camera before the clip ends. The great argus is an at-risk species with an elaborate pattern of eyespots on its tail feathers, according to Thai National Parks. Because of this feather pattern, the bird was named after 'Argus, a hundred-eyed giant in Greek mythology.' 'Though the great argus is not as colorful as other pheasants, its (courting) display surely ranks among the most remarkable,' park officials said. This display includes the male bird clearing a spot to dance and calling loudly to attract a female. Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary shared several more photos of a great argus in a May 13 Facebook post. The photos, taken between May 9 and 13, show the pheasant in the same forest clearing, sometimes standing still and sometimes spreading its wings. Seen up close, the male great argus has a bright, royal blue head with a white beak and white mohawk-like hair. Its body has a darker brown coloring with speckles of white throughout, extending into long tail feathers. Officials implied that the photos and video show the same pheasant but did not say so explicitly. The species's population is declining and, in 2023, Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary officials estimated the park had less than two dozen great argus birds. Wildlife officials praised the recent great argus sightings as a positive sign for the species and the surrounding sanctuary. Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary is in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, a roughly 460-mile drive south from Bangkok. Google Translate and GPT Translate were used to translate the Facebook posts from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Rare predator not seen in forest for years captured on trail camera in Thailand
Wildlife officials have confirmed a rare sighting of the critically endangered Malayan tiger and several other elusive species in a forest in Thailand. Between April 23-30, camera traps captured images of the tiger, tapirs, wild elephants, gaurs and several other species passing through Bang Lang National Park's Hala-Bala forest, according to a May 3 Facebook post from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Officials said the images showcase the forest's abundance and ability to sustain a variety of species. Wildlife experts said Malayan tigers are solitary predators with very large territories, according to a May 2 Facebook post from Bang Lang National Park officials. Male Malayan tigers can occupy a territory between 103 and 115 square miles, while females may inhabit an area roughly 23-27 square miles, according to park officials. There is no evidence of Malayan tigers living or hunting in groups except for mothers raising their young, officials said. This is the second Malayan tiger sighting in the area, according to an article from the Bangkok Post. The first confirmed sighting happened in 2023, the outlet reported. The species is only found on the Malaysian Peninsula and Thailand's southern forests. Fewer than 150 individuals are believed to exist in the wild, according to experts. Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook posts from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and officials at Bang Lang National Park.
