Khao Yai National Park

Surviving Together Khao Yai combines park protection, community-based resource management and wildlife monitoring to create a comprehensive and durable protection system that can be replicated elsewhere in Thailand and South East Asia.

One of the primary aims of the program is to develop local capacity among rangers, park managers and local villagers, and to hand over management of the project to local authorities once a certain level of competence has been reached. In accordance with this policy, management of the park protection elements of Khao Yai was transferred to the appropriate park officials at the beginning of 2003.

Although Wildlife Alliance continues to use the excellent facilities at Khao Yai for its Thailand-based training programs, Wildlife Alliance's efforts are now focused on expanding the community development and wildlife monitoring work, which Wildlife Alliance now performs in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.

Poaching in Khao Yai has been reduced by 70% since the program's inception.

Surviving Together Thailand includes the following initatives and projects:

Khao Yai's rich population of native carnivores includes predators such as large cats - leopards and tigers - as well as smaller wild cats, Asian wild dogs (dhole), Asiatic black bears, jackals, civets, and other carnivores. Unfortunately these species have been threatened by poaching as well as environmental disturbance. To track the population trends and ensure the survival of these predator species, Wildlife Alliance partners with Khao Yai National Park and the Smithsonian Institution to conduct monitoring programs, outreach, and habitat surveys.

Poachers turned protectors, shown here, once used the surrounding jungle to subsist on wildlife. They have since learned agricultural farming methods to take care of their families, without harming their environment.

To engage communities living alongside Khao Yai National Park, Wildlife Alliance recognized the need to provide community education as well as sustainable livelihoods. With funding from government and private partners, Wildlife Alliance has conducted programs include organic mushroom farming, community agriculture development, and biogas infrastructure development to ensure that neighboring communities have the economic development opportunities they need to prosper without needing to destroy habitats or poach wildlife for food or cash.

One highly respected program is the "Poachers to Protectors" outreach effort, which has worked with community leaders who once relied on wildlife and forest products for subsistence. By working with community members and training them to develop agriculture and other sustainable sources of income, and including them in community patrols and wildlife monitoring, Wildlife Alliance has turned these one-time poachers into the protectors of Khao Yai National Park and its wildlife.

Because of its location only a few hours from Bangkok, Khao Yai is a popular site for school groups and other youth outings. Wildlife Alliance has partnered with the National Park staff to create a curriculum for school groups and youth outings, to educate them on Khao Yai's wildlife and habitat and how they can work to ensure that the park is protected for many years to come.