Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, Protected forest complex in western Thailand.
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Thailand, covering a large forested area along the Tenasserim Hills near the border with Myanmar. It brings together several national parks, including Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri, forming a continuous block of rainforest, wetlands, and highland terrain.
The area was first designated as a wildlife reserve in 1964, then expanded into a national park in 1981 as protection efforts grew. The complex received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 after a previous nomination had been delayed for years over concerns about the Karen communities living inside its boundaries.
The forest sits along the Tenasserim Hills, a ridge that Karen communities have called home for generations, and their presence shapes how the land looks at its edges. Visitors who reach the outer zones may pass small villages where farming and forest use are still part of daily life.
The dry season from November to February gives the easiest conditions for walking trails and spotting wildlife, as vegetation is less thick and animals tend to come closer to open ground. Some sections, like Kui Buri, are open without advance booking, while others require a permit or reservation.
The complex is considered one of the few remaining places in Southeast Asia where wild tigers can still be found, even if their numbers are very low. Camera trap images taken inside the forest have regularly documented individual tigers in recent years, drawing the attention of conservation researchers from around the world.
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