Thailand Travel | Seeing Thailand’s Beautiful Wildlife
While Bangkok, Thailand, has plenty of sights to offer, the jungles in the country also have lots to see. They offer a glimpse of the country’s plant life and animal life, some of which couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world. Some of them provide a romantic backdrop if you’re out on a date with a Thailand woman.
If you’ve already explored most of the capital, then it’s time to set your sights elsewhere. And what better place to have an entirely different Thailand experience than the lush jungles of the country. You could make your Thailand travel experience a lot more exciting by witnessing some of its wildlife up close. Who knows? The experience might also bring you and your Thai date closer.
With that said, here are some of the rare wild animals you can see in Thailand:
- Tiger
- Black Bear
- Water Monitor Lizard
- Pangolin
- Binturong
With more or less 300 of them left in the wild, these tigers are truly a sight to behold. They are similar in size to their Bengal and Amur siblings, however, their coloration (their stripes in particular) are much darker and their skulls are much smaller.
These tigers also usually prey on moderately large animals, such as the Sambar Deer, wild boars, and large bovids. A lot of them can be found in the Huai Kha Kheng Wildlife Sanctuary. Here’s a surprising Thailand fact: although they are nearly extinct, there are recent reports confirming that some of these tigers are breeding in the wild again, which revives hope of saving the specie from extinction.
Known for the distinctive half-moon mark on their chest, Asiatic Black Bears are endemic in Asia. They are not as large as their fully black or brown cousins, but they are just as majestic.
Surprisingly, unlike their cousins, black bears are known to dwell on trees instead of caves. They are herbivores, which means their diet is mostly plant-based. You can witness them at the Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo.
As exotic as they may look, these lizards are surprisingly common in the country. They are usually found in cemeteries (unfortunately, some locals associate this with bad luck). They feed on carrion and decaying flesh, but they are also known to hunt frogs, fish, rodents, birds, and even young crocodiles. However, they are not dangerous to humans. In fact, they would immediately retreat when seeing them. You can see them in Khao Sok National Park.
These scaly mammals are quite secretive so it would be hard to find them. If you get the lucky chance to witness them in person, you’d be amazed at how tough the keratin scales are. Their outer coating is known to protect them against predators. They are also nocturnal animals, meaning they are only active at night so it might be a bit challenging to see them in person.
This endangered species is native not only to Thailand but also in Southeast Asia. Outside of the country, this species is also known as bearcat because it does look like a cross between a bear and a cat. But it’s most unique feature would have to be its bushy prehensile tail, which curls at the end. They are active both day and night, but what makes them important to the ecosystem is they are crucial for seed dispersal, which is necessary for reforestation.
Witnessing these animals up close and personal is just one of the many points of interest of Thailand. And viewing them could also bring you and your date together, even if it is for the sole purpose of saving them.