Ko Lidi

Khao To Ngai

Ao Po

          Mu Ko Phetra National Park consists of different topography with the sea, islands, mountains, and the plain in the valley and the coast. The coastal area has a 3 kilometers radius and is both flat and undulating, with mountains and capes including cliffs, rocky beaches, bays, and dunes.

              There are 22 islands that run on a North South axis. The limestone islands have caves or sinkholes as well as slope gradients of over 35%. There are burrows, caves, dolines, tower karsts and cliffs caused by the erosion of the wind and tides and the chemical erosion from rain.  There are a few plains in the valleys, but they  are short. There are also narrow beaches along the island's headlands and bays, mostly on the eastern side of the island.

    Mu Ko Phetra National Park has a tropical monsoon climate and the weather conditions are similar throughout the year, In rainy season, from May to November, it rains a lot, and in summer it is hotter and rains a bit less.

        The Limestone Forest is the most common in Mu Ko Phetra National Park and it is home to plant species that are similar to those in the understory layer of dry evergreen forests. There are no trees from the rubber families. In some areas, trees defoliate during the dry season. The plant species found include Streblus ilicifolius (Vidal) Corner, Toona febrifuga, Toona sureni (Blume) Merr., Cyathocalyx sumatrana Scheff. and Hydnocarpus ilicifolius.

          The tropical rain forest is the evergreen forest found on Ko Bulon Le, a large island with high humidity and slopes with low gradients. The forest has been encroached on for cultivation and tourism in some areas.

The dominant plants are from the rubber family, such as Diospyros wallichii King & Gamble, Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (Blanco) Blanco, Semecarpus curtisii King, Ficus vasculosa Wall. ex Miq. Other trees include Palaguium obovatum, Gardenia thailandica Tirveng, Knema furfuracea (Hook.f. & Thomson) Warb., Xanthophyllum lanceatum (Miq.) J.J.Sm., Pterocymbium tinctorium (Blanco) Merr., Dipterocarpus costatus Gaertn.f.

           The ground plants consist of Bouea oppsitifolia, Paper Mulberryand Gardenia thailandicaTirveng, Knema laurina (Blume) Warb., Dipterocarpus costatus Gaertn. f., Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (Blanco) Blanco, Purple Millettia, Calameae and Caryota urens.

          A "beach forest" is a deciduous forest that appears along the sandy beachesand it is home to plant species that can withstand saline soil, brackish water, and salty sea spray. They consist of Derris indica (Lamk.) Benn., Terminalia catappa, Cordia subcordata Lam., Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa, and Asiatic mangrove. The ground plants are grass, Trianthema triquetra Rottler & Willd., and Goat's Foot Creeper.

           The mangrove swamp forest appears in tidal areas along the coast and estuaries where the soil is mainly mud. The plant species include Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Brownlowia peltata Benth., Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl., Xylocarpus granatum Koenig, Xylocarpus moluccensis (Lam.) M. Roem., and Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa. The tree density is approximately 176–296 tons/rai and the species diversity is relatively low.

Wildlife

             Mu Ko Phetra National Park has a low levels of wildlife diversity as they are relatively distant islands and only small land areas, which are covered with limestone forests that lack fresh water. Only a few animals live or have lived there, including the Mouse Deer, Wild Boars, and Palm Civets.

Ko Bulon Le is the only island that contains a tropical rain forest, and as such is home to large trees that form a habitat for many birds, such as Great Hornbills and Oriental Pied Hornbills. Currently, the forest is being encroached upon by agriculture and tourism, so wildlife habitats and food sources, especially local fruits, have decreased, which has led to a reduction in species such as the Nicobar Pigeon, the Pied Imperial Pigeon, and Lyle's Flying Fox. The Nicobar Pigeon is currently listed asendangered.

        The encroachment has had a detrimental effect on lowland wildlife habitats, as well as a significant reduction in local fruit varieties. The fruit is the primary food source for three of the island's endemic wildlife species: the Chapi Bird, the White Plume, and the Island Hen Bat. The Chapi bird in particular is a threatened wildlife species.