Khao Kho National Park

Topography

Landscape is mostly covered by mountains and forests, the height ranged from 155 m to 1,305 m, Khao Kha the highest point in the park. The national park is named after Khao Kho, a mesa high 1,143 m. This part of the Phetchabun mountain range is the origin of the main tributaries of the Pa Sak, Yom and Nan rivers.

Climate

Weather measurement station at the Khao Kho National park collects data of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall since June 1999. The park is generally cool all year round, with rainy season around mid-May to October. Rainfall is approximately 1,425 mm/year, with rainfall for 126 days a year. Winter is around November to mid-February. Summer is around mid-February to mid-May.

History

From 1968 to 1981 the park's forest was used as a base for guerrillas of the Communist Party of Thailand. On 1 May 1995 an area of 14 km2 in the Khao Polok Lon National Forest, originally named Namtok Than Thip Forest Park, was declared as Khao Kho National Park. A survey was set up of Khok Sam Sang forest, Khao Polok Lon forest, Khao Pang Kho forest and Wang Chompu forest in the area of Lom Kao district, Lom Sak district, Khao Kho district and Mueang Phetchabun district of Phetchabun province on 16 August 2001. Later on 18 May 2012 Khao Kho National Park, with an area of 301,698 rai ~ 483 km2 and neighbouring Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park to the north, has been declared the 125th national park and is managed by region 11 (Phitsanulok).

Flora

The park is home to deciduous dipterocarp forest or red rainforest, such as:

• Afzelia xylocarpa
• Dipterocarpus alatus
• Hopea odorata
• Wild orchid
• Pterocarpus macrocarpus
• Shorea obtusa
• Tectona grandis
• Xylia xylocarpa

Fauna

Mammals:

• Asian elephant
• Asian golden cat
• Asian palm civet
• Burmese hare
• Chevrotain
• Flying lemur
• Porcupine
• Slow loris
• Wild boar Birds:

The park has some 80 species of birds of which 60 species of passerine from 20 families include:

• Ashy woodswallow
• Asian fairy-bluebird
• Barn swallow
• Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike
• Black-crested bulbul
• Black-naped monarch
• Bronzed drongo
• Common green magpie
• Common iora
• Common myna
• Common tailorbird
• Grey-backed shrike
• Grey-headed canary-flycatcher
• Grey wagtail
• Hainan blue flycatcher
• Indian white-eye
• Olive-backed sunbird
• Scarlet-backed flowerpecker
• Scarlet minivet
• Slender-billed oriole
• White-browed scimitar babbler
• Yellow-browed warbler and some 20 species of non-passerine from 9 families, which include:
• Asian barred owlet
• Bay woodpecker
• Blue-throated barbet
• Eurasian hoopoe
• Green-billed malkoha
• Mountain imperial pigeon
• Oriental honey buzzard
• Silver-backed needletail
• Vernal hanging parrot Reptiles:
• Bengal monitor Butterflies, there is a wide variety of butterflies.

Places

• Namtok Tat Fa - largest waterfall in Khao Kho national park.
• Namtok Than Thip - 26 m high waterfall.
• Namtok Huai Yai - 20 m high waterfall.
• Namtok Khan Bandai - a 20-tiered waterfall.
• Namtok Wang Nam Rin - 5 m high waterfall.
• Namtok Pha Lat - a waterfall off a cliff.
• Namtok Kaeng Liang Pha - waterfall with a large stone yard.
• Tham Yai Nam Ko - a cave.
• Khao Kho royal palace - temporarily residence from late King Bhumidol Adulyadaj (1985).
• Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaeo - temple with five large sitting Buddha images in line (2004).
• Khao Kho wind farm - wind farm with 24 wind turbines each 110 m tall.

Location

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References

References

1. "Khao Kho National Park".