Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Uthai Thani Province, Thailand
Huai Kha Khaeng is a protected area in Uthai Thani Province that spreads across mountainous terrain with peaks reaching up to 1800 meters (5900 feet). Dense rainforest covers the slopes and valleys, providing habitat for around 400 vertebrate species, including large mammals and numerous bird species.
Authorities founded the reserve in 1974 to protect endangered wildlife populations and the original forest landscape. UNESCO recognized its ecological importance in 1991 by granting it World Heritage Site status.
The name combines the Thai word for stream with the local river and shows how water shapes life across this forested region. Rangers and researchers work side by side here to track animal movements and monitor the health of forest corridors.
Visitors need official permission and must book guided tours through approved operators to enter designated areas. Trails cross steep terrain in places, so guests should bring good fitness levels and sturdy footwear.
The area hosts one of the largest wild tiger populations in Thailand and serves as an important refuge for Asian elephants. Some valleys remain difficult to access even for researchers and act as undisturbed breeding grounds for rare species.
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