Thailand, renowned as the Land of Smiles for its kind, welcoming people, is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. Many visitors spend time in cities like Bangkok or on tropical islands like Phuket, but the country also has stunning natural beauty and many animals to explore.
Thailand is home to an array of species as varied as the country’s landscapes, including both large and small mammals, monkeys, and lizards. Although many of these amazing species may be seen in zoos, the greatest location to view any animal is in its natural habitat.
Here is a list of some of the most amazing animals you can find in Thailand.
Asian Elephant
Let’s begin this list with the national symbol of Thailand, the elephant. Their population is declining, but they can still be found throughout the country.
The word “Thailand” is almost inseparable with the image of an elephant, and a trip to the “Land of Smiles” would not be complete without the experience of seeing an Asian Elephant. There are major concerns regarding the treatment of elephants used in rides and performances, despite their widespread popularity. A more sustainable and natural approach is a better option that still lets tourists see the beautiful Asian elephant up close.
Near Chiang Mai lies Elephant Nature Park, which is worth a visit. It’s a sanctuary for elephants and is well regarded for its work in conservation. Many rescued elephants live at Elephant Nature Park, where they are free to wander in a safe environment. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is another excellent Chiang Mai attraction. This organization has many branches around the nation, but the largest is in Chiang Mai. The team here provide elephants with critical health care while raising awareness about the difficulties that elephants face across the and the respect that they should get. Khao Yai National Park is the place to go if you want to get a glimpse of these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Sun Bear
The sun bear is a mammal with jet-black fur, a crest on its neck, and slightly bent legs that lives in the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia. Although the sun bear is the tiniest type of bear, making it look adorable to those who are fortunate enough to see one, these bears nonetheless have large teeth and a powerful bite.
Sun bear habitat has been reduced due to deforestation, although they are still able to wander freely in Southern Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park in the Phanom District. Sun bears are reportedly seen by some hikers in the park on their own, however organized tours greatly increase your chances of seeing one.
Sunda Pangolin
he Sunda pangolin is one of Thailand’s unique creatures. Commonly referred to as the Javan pangolin or the Malayan pangolin, these animals are believed to inhabit various regions throughout the Malay peninsula as well as the islands situated in the northern and western parts of Indonesia.
It lives in Thailand’s plantations and wooded areas, where it spends a large amount of its life in trees.
Like other pangolins, this species is highly exploited and poached despite being protected practically everywhere in its habitat. As a result, it is in danger of being extinct.
Lar Gibbon
The White-hued gibbon, also known as the Lar gibbon, is perhaps the most recognizable primate in Thailand. A fascinating fact about gibbons is that they are members of the ape family, not the monkey family.
Lar gibbons spend the majority of their time and sleep 16 hours a day in tree canopies, because of this, it might be difficult for tourists to see lar gibbons. With approximately 20,000 gibbons in Thailand, people on guided trips have a great chance of seeing one.
The Lar gibbon may be found in the Kaeng Krachan National Park, where tours look for the creatures by listening for their hoo noises, the primate’s main means of communication.
King Cobra
The king cobra, the world’s longest poisonous snake, is both respected and feared by many. The king cobra is a venomous snake native to India and the rest of Southeast Asia, has a preference for densely populated highland forests as its natural habitat. These lengthy snakes are often found close to bodies of water such as lakes or streams.
Massive king cobras are often sighted at the Bangkok Snake Farm, a zoo and venom research center.
Dhole
The dhole, scientifically referred to as Cuon alpinus, is a wild canid species that is indigenous to several regions of Asia, including central, southern, eastern, and southeastern areas and is also known as the whistling dog, mountain wolf, or red dog.
It is very sociable, living in clans of up to 40 members, characterized by the absence of a rigid hierarchical structure. In contrast to other members of the Canidae family, this particular species does not use urine as a means of marking its territory.
The dhole’s habitat is very dispersed across Thailand, with clans seldom having more than three members.
Crab-Eating Macaque
The crab-eating macaque, or Macaca fascicularis as it is called in the scientific community, is a tiny Old-World monkey that is endemic to Southeast Asia. It is well-known for its adaptive character as well as its striking look, which includes a long tail.
The crab-eating macaque, a primate with peculiar characteristics and its own unique society. Females dominate the society of crab-eating macaques, with males departing the group at puberty. Some Thai people consider the crab-eating macaque to be holy, and there are many temples dedicated to the monkey. Because of the enormous lengths it is willing to travel to in order to get fresh seafood, the macaque is often also known as the swimming monkey.
There are numerous locations in Thailand where crab-eating macaques can be found, but none as enthralling as the village of Lopburi, where the primates stroll the streets and cohabit with people.
Tokay Gecko
The Tokay gecko is one of the most interesting of Thailand’s many kinds of geckos.
The Tokay gecko gets its name from the unique sounds that it makes. It is more likely that you will hear one before you see it, as its cry, described as sounding like “tokay,” is frequently heard in the evening in Thailand.
Throughout most of Southeast Asia, the species is given a high status. In Thailand, where the species is supposed to be descended from ancient dragons, it is regarded a sign of good luck and fertility.
Even though they have gorgeous colors and are a true treat to discover, you shouldn’t attempt to touch one since they bite and won’t let go without a fight.
Siamese Crocodile
The Siamese crocodile, as its name indicates, is a freshwater reptile native to Southeast Asia. Today, however, just a few Siamese crocodiles may be seen in the wild, and those that can are mostly found in Cambodia. Thailand, on the other hand, is lucky enough to be in charge of a number of Siamese crocodiles.
The Siamese crocodile is arguably one of Thailand’s most unusual creatures that you don’t want to stumble across. A Jurassic beast that developed over millions of years, it has the appearance of a dinosaur, with a smooth, wide robust body and a crocodilian body that may reach up to 2.5 meters from fangs to tail.
Pang Sida National Park is home to a small population of wild Siamese crocodiles, although visitors seldom get to see them because of the park’s remote location.
Indochinese Tiger
The Indochinese tiger is an endangered species, with just around 600 species still alive today. A portion of the population inhabits Thailand, where they mostly occupy tropical rainforests due to the high humidity and favorable conditions for hiding.
The vast Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Thailand is home to the majority of Thailand’s Indochinese tigers. The park receives the most visitors during the summer, or dry season, and this is also the time of year when tourists have the highest chances of going on a guided expedition and spotting an Indochinese tiger.
Whale Shark
Thailand is home to a diverse array of whale and dolphin species, with the whale shark standing out as particularly remarkable. These whales, which can reach a length of up to 12 meters, are considered to be completely harmless.
Diving with whale sharks is become one of Southeast Asia’s bucket-list attractions that many want to experience in their lifetime. Thailand, known as the Land of Smiles, is widely recognized as one of the premier destinations for engaging in such activities. The reefs of Hin Daeng, which are located close to Koh Ha, is one of the places that is known to attract a large number of massive clients.
Binturong
The binturong is a native Thai animal with a peculiar appearance. Because of the similarities between the two species, they are occasionally mistaken for brown bears. Even though they are not very scarce, they are hard to spot because of their shy nature and their ability to climb trees. However, their musk reportedly has a popcorn-like scent, so you may be able to detect them that way.
Summing Up
This list of the most amazing animals in Thailand includes only a handful of the incredible creatures that call the legendary Land of Smiles home.
One should go out and personally see the extraordinary nature of the animals in Thailand. You could get a greater appreciation for our planet while strolling and swimming amid some of nature’s most magnificent works of art, and you’ll certainly have enough of tales to share when you come home.
