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 Thailand's flora and fauna are
among the world's richest. Unique in South-East Asia because its
north-south axis extends some 1800km from mainland to peninsular
South-East Asia, Thailand provides potential habitats for an
astounding variety of flora and fauna.
Until recently, most of the country was covered by tropical
forests; but during the last several decades massive destruction
of forests has been taking place in order to open new areas for
cultivation. In the early 1960s, natural forests covered about
60% of the country. By the 1990s, this figure was reduced to
only 25%. These forests formed the habitat of a very large
number of animals and plants. Naturally, when the forests
disappeared, the plants and animals that lived in them
disappeared as well. Even in places where forests survive,
animals are still widely hunted for food as well as for use in
wildlife products.
The flora of Thailand varies from region to region. The northern
forests consist of tall, large trees, with dense undergrowth. In
the arid northeast, there are mostly small trees and shrubs, as
well as bamboo. The south is covered with thick jungles, while
parts of the center that are not cultivated consist of marshes
and woods. Along the coastline there are mangrove forests. The
flora of Thailand consists of a wealth of plants, many of which
remain to be scientifically described. With more than 500
species of trees, 600 species of ferns, and 1,300 species of
orchid, Thailand's forests are of huge botanical significance.
Although Thailand is within the tropics, the distinct wet and
dry seasons affecting much of the country means that 65% of the
forests are deciduous with trees shedding their leaves in the
dry season. The remaining 35% of forest is evergreen, although
in reality there is much mixing of deciduous and evergreen in
many areas.
Many species of animals found in Thailand are
endangered, and
some have become extinct. Both single-horned and double-horned
rhinoceros used to live in the south. They became extinct in the
beginning of the twentieth century. The Schomburgk deer was
hunted out of existence in the middle of the twentieth century
because of its prized horns. Some tigers can still be found in
western and southern Thailand, although they are on the verge of
extinction. Another endangered species is the gaur, a giant wild
ox that lives in the mountains of the north and the northeast.
Elephants enjoy a special status in Thailand, similar to that
enjoyed by cows among the Hindus in India. In the past, the
Elephant Corps formed an important part of the Thai armed
forces. The early Thai kings reportedly kept thousands of
elephants for military purposes. The war elephants were treated
with great respect and given special names. Today, elephants are
still widely respected in Thailand, and are protected by a
special law.
Other large wild mammals that inhabit the forests of Thailand
include several kinds of monkeys, gibbons, leopards, panthers,
bears, deer, and wild boars. Reptiles include crocodiles, land
and sea turtles, and many kinds of snakes, including cobras,
which are sometimes tamed by snake charmers. The forests are
also inhabited by many species of exotic tropical birds and
butterflies. |
