Achievement Report

15th January 2015

The G.V.I. Phang Nga Conservation program helping the Department of National Parks (D.N.P.) identify species of fauna within the
Thai Muang National Park (T.M.N.P.).
Objective
Observing all wildlife at specific sites within the Thai Muang National Park (T.M.N.P.)
to provide information for the development of government databases and organisations of the environmental sector.

Summary
G.V.I. Phang Nga Conservation staff and volunteers have carried out 19 surveys
over the course of the last quarter 144. 25 new species where identified and added
to the data base bringing our overall total species number to 266!

Report
Thai Muang National Park, the 52nd National Park to be created in Thailand, is located to the south of Khao Lak, occupying 72 km. The key habitat types within the
the park boundaries have been classified as: tropical rainforest, pre-montaine rainforest and swamp forest, therefore should be home to a myriad of species of plants,
vertebrates and invertebrates.
The G.V.I. Phang Nga conservation project carries out weekly forest visits, to the
Tonprai Waterfall and Lampi Waterfall sites: often being assisted by Ratinan, a local
park ranger who goes by the name of Boom. Her eyes and ears are invaluable to the
survey success as her skills at spotting animals is unsurpassable.
Whilst on survey G.V.I. records the following information on behalf of the D.N.P:
G.P.S location, date and also photographic verification. This should provide a baseline for the national park to learn what currently lives within its boundaries.
During the final quarter of 2014, a combined total of 25 new species have been identified from both T.M.N.P sites. Broken down these species include: five new invertebrates, two amphibians, five reptiles and thirteen birds. No new mammals have been
sighted by the G.V.I team, however the rangers apprehended poachers after Christmas for the killing of a Binturong, a primitive nocturnal mammal. Although terrible
news, there is hope that we may see them alive in the future.
Species identification, particularly of invertebrates, is an ongoing task for the volunteers of this program, there are still many more to be correctly identified. It is from
such work that we have discerned that one bird sighted in the last quarter, the Lesser-green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon), is in-fact listed as vulnerable on the
I.U.C.N. Such findings are evidence of the importance of leaving these last remaining pockets of forest intact.

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These results are a fantastic ending to the projects first full year: a total of 266 species have thus far been identified by the team. With continued hard work from volunteers and staff alike, then many more will be added to the data base over the next
few months.
GVI Conservation project will continue to work towards its long-term objectives supporting government organisations in the Phang Nga region to develop databases for
research projects, in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) ensuring environmental sustainability as well as global partnership development .
You can get firsthand experience in this project, or read more about the amazing
work our volunteers are doing within the local community by visiting our website.
Please like our facebook page, check out our blog and follow us on twitter for the latest information straight from the field.

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