Do not feed the monkeys

Khao Sok National Park is situated in the west of Surat Thani province, in Ban Ta Khun and Phanom districts. Established in 1980, Khao Sok National Park was the 22nd park to be designated out of the 77 Thai National Parks. It covers an area of 738.74 square kilometres. Originally, the north side of the park was bounded by the Pasaeng River. However, since the construction of Rachabrapah Dam in 1982 and the formation of the artificial lake, the boundary of the park has been extended to include the reservoir. The reservoir itself covers an area of 165 square kilometers. Beyond the lake extends the wildlife sanctuaries of Khlong Saeng and Khlong Nakha and Kaeng Krung National Park. To the west of Khao Sok lies Sri Phang Nga National Park. Lying astride the junction of the provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga and Surat Thani, these reserves make up the largest area of continuous forest preserve in the Thai peninsula with 4,000 square kilometers. It is only in this area that large mammals such as tigers and elephants have survived in the south of Thailand, although little is known about their status.

Topography and Environment

Climate
Khao Sok is the wettest area in all of Thailand because it is situated at the mountain ridge separating the west coast from the east coast. Winds from both the Gulf of Thailand in the east and the Andaman Sea in the west blow monsoon rain into the area. It can rain as much as 3500 mm in one year. Late December to early February is the driest period with just a little or no rainfall.

Geography
The Park has a general topographic composition of limestone mountains and possesses the scattered peaks of Ka Lo Mountain whose form resembles the one of towers. The highest limestone peak to reside in the park measures at 961 m above sea level, but the average height is 400-600 m. The area in which the park is located contains highly acidic, sandy soil that is easily eroded during rainstorms.

Limestone cliff in Khao Sok lake

The dominant forest is lowland rainforest. The rainforest in Southeast Asia is 160 million years old, which makes it the oldest rainforest on earth.
The National Park consists of:
40 % foothill rainforest
27 % rainforest plains
15 % limestone crag vegetation
15 % lowland scrub
3 % rainforest at 600-1000 m

Caves
Caves are formed by underground water and are characteristic of limestone landscapes. Khao Sok National Park has many limestone caves, such as 'Kangkow' cave, 'Namtaloo' cave, 'Seeroo' cave. These caves were formed through a chemical process called carbonation in which the calcium carbonate of the limestone is dissolved by water containing carbon dioxide. The rock is gradually eroded. Small cracks form and gradually enlarge until a tunnel is created. Under certain conditions the process is reversed and calcium carbonate is deposited within the cave in the form of stalactites and stalagmites.

Khao Sok National Park contains 3 distinct forest types:

Khao Sok lake view

1. Rain Forest (tropical evergreen forest)
This is the principal forest type covering the majority of the national park area. These forests are dense and of entwined structures, dominated by tall emergent trees that are often supported by buttress roots. Large proportions of these trees belong to the Dipterocarpaceae family and are easily recognized by their two winged fruits. The middle level of the forest is an aerial tangle of figs and lianas (woody climbers). Below is the dense under-area, where evergreen ground flora such as bamboo, rattan, ferns and palms compete for light.

2. Limestone Forest
This occurs on the steep limestone karsts which are scattered across the park. The various species growing in this environment can survive without very much water. Their roots are able to grip into small cracks in the rock. Of particular interest is Mayburretia Furtadoana (Maak Pralatoo), a small palm species endemic to Khao Sok National Park and the surrounding areas.

3. Secondary or Disturbed Forest
This occurs in areas that have been logged or disturbed by human activity in the past. The vegetation growing here is characterized by invasive and fast-growing robust plant species. In Khao Sok national park this forest type is found around the banks of the Rachabrapah Dam and lake.

Flower in Khao Sok

Wildlife
The nature here has more in common with the Malaysian forest than with the forest in the north of Thailand. Compared to the forests of the north, the forest in Khao Sok is taller, darker, more humid and evergreen. There are approximately 200 different floral species per hectare. Wildlife (recorded species):
Mammals: 48 species
Birds: 188 species
Bats: 38 species
Reptiles: unknown
Insects: unknown

The richness of the tropical forest flora, the abundance of fresh water and the shelter of the mountains all provide excellent habitats for many wildlife species. Khao Sok National Park makes up part of the largest continuous forest area remaining in the Thai peninsula. This provides the only viable habitat in southern Thailand for large mammals needing extensive areas of undisturbed forest for their survival.

Mammals
Elephants, tigers, gaur, and banteng are known to be present. Tracks are seen regularly, although actual sightings are very rare. The status of these animals is therefore still uncertain. Many smaller mammals such as monkeys, langurs, wild boas and deer are frequently encountered. The call of gibbons is often heard along the forest trails.

Birds
One hundred and eighty-eight species of birds have so far been recorded in Khao Sok national park. The most spectacular and distinctive of such rainforest environments are the hornbills, of which we can find five confirmed types. The Argus Pheasant, another rare bird, has also been seen in the forest.

Reptiles and Amphibia
Very little research has been carried out to determine what species of reptiles and amphibia inhabit this area, despite the obvious abundance of these creatures, including many varieties of snake, lizard, frog and tortoise.

Beautiful butterfly

Insects
Thailand's geographical position makes it uniquely rich in insect life. There are literally thousands of different insect species in Khao Sok: ants, beetles, butterflies, stick insects, dragonflies and spiders. Insects play a vital role in the breakdown of matter, decomposition on the forest floor and pollination, which are all critical to the forest life cycle. Without these decomposers, life in the forest would eventually grind to a halt because of lack of available nutrients There is no need to worry about malaria, because the disease has been eradicated from this area long time ago. Even so, we recommend that you bring mosquito repellent when you visit Khao Sok. The mosquitoes can sometimes be a bit annoying, especially in the evening and after rain.