Pattaya-
Everyone who has spent any time in Thailand knows that Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most “wild” areas for nightlife and partying! But how many know that very near Pattaya central there are several areas where one can see some of Thailand’s rarest and most spectacular wildlife?
Recently, the Smith family spent time at two such “wild” locations that I will highlight below. (Photos at the end of the text.)
Wat Tham Prathun, about 15 kms east of Pattaya Nua, is situated in a substantial forest complex that maintains a productive waterhole that attracts birds of dozens of species as well as a few mammals. With so much urban sprawl and development in the immediate area, this forested island is a very important refugium for numerous species of birds and mammals and other fauna.
And during this winter migratory season, one can find some real gems there. We were very fortunate to see White-throated Rock Thrush, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, and other rare and common species. This is also an area where one can see species that are usually found much further east and are rather rare in Thailand such as the Cambodian Striped Squirrel.
The other location where we spent time viewing wildlife was Sai Kaew Beach, a bit further south in Sattahip. Sai Kaew is a wonderful beach that is very scenic and clean and well worth a visit even without knowing it is a very unique area ecologically. Protected by the Naval Base, the nature of the area is home to FOUR primate species – five if you include humans! It’s not that often that we find four species of primates living in such close proximity to others that occupy basically the same niche. Along with the Pigtailed and Crab-eating Macaques, one can find one of Thailand’s rarest and most critically endangered species – Germain’s Langur! Once widely distributed in the lowland forests of central Thailand, Germain’s Langur is now limited to a few very remote and isolated green patches of forest in southeastern Thailand. Sai Kaew is perhaps the best place to attempt a view of this awesome primate.
Article and photographs by Coke Smith, the Environmental Science Leader at Bangkok Patana School and an avid nature photographer. Coke has published his wildlife images in many books and magazines over the years, including BBC Planet Earth and Nat Geo Science. For more information on any of the above local wildlife hotspots, please contact Coke (cosm@patana.ac.th).
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