Wild Elephant Viewpoint

Phraek Takhro Waterfall

       The majority of the area resembles folded comples mountains with west-to-east facing slopes and a mountain range that runs north and south. It is part of Tanaosi Mountain range, the mountain range that separates Thailand and Myanmar. The area is classified into two categories:
        1) Undulating Terrain, which ranges from slopes to hills. These have slopes of  80-100 meters, and the majority of the area has been encroached upon by farmers of pineapples, sugarcane, and vegetables.
        2) The mountainous region, characterized by steep mountains and remnants of natural forests and streams. The slope is over 35 degrees at an elevation of 750 meters above sea level.
The northern border is adjacent to Military Security Zone in Pran Buri District., and the southern border is next to dan Singkhon, Khlong Wan Sub-district, Mueang District in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
The eastern side is adjacent to Pran Buri, Sam Roi Yot, Kui Buri, and Mueang District in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, and the west borders Myanmar.

         The climate of Kui Buri National Park is a Tropical Savannah Climate with relatively high temperatures throughout the year. There are apparent dry periods in the year which are based on the geographic classification system and a feature of semi-arid climates. There are longer days in summer and shorter days in winter. There is only short period of excessive water supply. There are 3 seasons: 

Rainy season:
         The season lasts approximately seven months, from mid-May to mid-November, and is influenced by the southwest monsoon that blows in from Indian Ocean. May is the wettest month, with June and July being the driest. Following that, from August to November, it will rain heavily.

Winter season:
        This season lasts from mid-December to the end of February. This is influenced by northeast monsoon, when the wind blows from the South China Sea's high-pressure area, bringing cooler air with it.

Summer season:
       This season begins in mid-February and ends in mid-May. The monsoon season begins and ends during this time period. The weather may begin to warm up following the end of the northeast monsoon season. April is the hottest month, but not excessively due to the peninsula's proximity to the sea. The wind and water vapor from the sea combined to create cooler air than inland regions.

Forest Resources
         Forest conditions in the Kui Buri National Park Area Forests are divided into three types.
1.  Evergreen forests are primarily found in the western region, in particular areas close to Myanmar, which are classified as follows:
     1.1) Hill Evergreen forest are found on mountain summits above 960 meters in the northwest of the area (0.004 percent of the area).The ecosystem is found a relatively narrow area with stunted forest conditions due to the influence of wind and shallow ridges. Plants found include Talo (Schima wallichii), Wa Khao (Syzygium nervosum), Fagaceae, Argostemma, Hornstedtia seyphifer, and pagoda flower, while moss and ferns live in densely packed tree trunks.

        1.2) Tropical Rain Forest
This forest type is found primarily in the western highlands, between 500 and 990 meters above sea level (14 percent of the area). The forest, called Pa Rim Huai (River Forest) is found in highly moist land or along rivers with year-round water supply. Plants are found in multiple layers with a high canopy ranging in size, including species as Parashorea stellata Kurz, Dipterocarpus dyeri Pierre, Pink Cedar, Pterocymbium tinctorium (Blanco) Merr, and Polyalthia viridis Craib. 
Plants at the lower level include Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R.Parker, Indian Mahogany, Knema angustifolia (Roxb.) Warb, Nephelium maingayi, Sai Tree, Sumbaviopsis albicans (Blume) J.J. Sm., Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Verdc, Archidendron jiringa (Jack) I.C. Nielsen, Santol, Antiaris toxicaria Lesch, and Antiaris toxicaria Lesch. 
Lower ground plants include the Palmae family, various rattan species, ferns, and the Zingiberaceae family.

      1.3) Semi-Evergreen Forest, the majority of this forest (22.12% of the total area) is located between 400 and 900 meters above sea level along the ridge line that separates Thailand and Myanmar. When approaching the area from the north and center it appear a larger forest in this type. The ecosystem can be classified into 3-4 levels. The canopy has a height of about 30-35 meters and includes trees such as Parkia leiophylla Kurz, Antidesma velutinosum Blume, Dipterocarpus costatus C.F. Gaertn, Dipterocarpus dyeri Pierre, Nitta tree, Strychnos nux-blanda A.W. Hill, and Livistona speciosa Kurz. The lower canopy involves Paramichelia baillonii (Pierre) Hu, Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R.Parker, Java Plum, Knema angustifolia (Roxb.) Warb, Mangifera quadrifida, Thai Croton, Plum Mango, Korlan, Baccaurea parviflora, Nephelium maingayi, Stemonurus secundiflorus (Mast.) Sleumer, and Archidendron jiringa (Jack) I.C. Nielsen. The lower ground plants includes types of ferns that live on the soil and those that live on the boughs, and Rafflesia kerri.

       1.4) Middle Dry Evergreen Forest extends from the east to the central region, almost to the Myanmar border, at an elevation of 350–650 meters above sea level (24.40 percent of the area).
These forests are frequently associated with semi-evergreen forest and lower dry evergreen forest communities. Upper canopy plant societies include Baing, Hog plum, Indian Coral Tree, Kalamet, Antiaris toxicaria Lesch, and Excoecaria oppositifolia Griff. The secondary level canopy is approximately ten to fifteen meters high, and includes Kariyat, Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr, Diospyros variegata Kurz, Polyalthia viridis Craib, Mitrephora sirikitiae Weerasooriya, Mitrephora keithii Ridl, Hydnocarpus ilicifolius King, and Orang Jessamine. The third level canopy includes Wild Jujube, Siamese randia, Ceriscoides turgida (Roxb.) Tirveng, and Coral Bush. There are several ground plants, including Lady Palm, Silver Fern, Croton cascarilloides raeusch, Ventilago denticulata Willd, Philippine Violet, and Oxyceros bispinosus (Griff.) Tirveng.

       1.5) Lower Dry Evergreen Forest This forest type occurs in the eastern part of the area between 100 and 400 meters above mean sea level (29.27 percent of the area). Only Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi Provinces have this unique ecosystem. The Siamese rough bush, which grows to a diameter of more than 30 centimeters, is the top of Mansonia gagei,  Cleistanthus sumatranus, Bungor, Staurochilus gibbosicalca, Renanthera isosepala are all additional species.

        1.6) Dry Evergreen Forest mixed with deciduous forest
This forest species is found in the area's eastern region, particularly near agricultural areas, and is frequently found along ridges and hillsides (3.31 percent of the area) and is home to Memecylon ovatum Sm., Coral Bush, Red Sandalwood Tree, Terminalia nigrovenulosa Pierre, Hydnocarpus ilicifolius King, and Croton oblongifolius Roxb.

2. Deciduous Forest is found in only a few locations in the lower and upper areas, classified as a mixed deciduous forest.

        2.1) Mixed Deciduous Forest
This forest type is found on the lower eastern slopes of the area near Khao Hin Thoen Forest Park, at an elevation of approximately 250–300 meters above sea level (0.58 percent of the area).
The first canopy trees that were discovered included Burmese Padauk, Bombax anceps, and Vitex limonifolia Wall. Additionally, secondary canopy plants include Hog Plum, Bridelia tomentosa Bl., Millettia brandisiana Kurz, and Ebony Tree, Lastly, ground bamboo species include Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble, Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss, and White Bamboo.

3. Other types of forests
In some areas, forest regeneration has been allowed to occur naturally. Plants include the Siamese Rough Bush, Bridelia ovata Decne, and types of vines. While some areas have been managed as grass plots for wildlife and weeds such as Siam Weed, Weeping Lantana, Wild Spikenard, and Sensitive Plants have been removed. 

        3.1) Old Cleared Area
The majority of these areas are covered in weeds, and the area accounts for 0.10 percent of the total. Old cleared areas were created by village evacuations and trees being replaced by agricultural and wild plants, such as Siamese Rough Bush, Dendrolobium thorelii, Pagoda Flower, Monkey-Faced Tree, Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr, Cluster Fig, Gigantochloa albociliata (Munro) Kurz, and Croton oblongifolius Roxb.

        3.2) Bamboo Forest
It is found at elevations ranging from 200 to 800 meters in humid and dry evergreen forests (0.18 per cent of the area). It is primarily covered by Gigantochloa albociliata (Munro) Kurz, but there are some Fernledt bamboos. White bamboo and Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble are found at an elevation of approximately 300 meters.

Wildlife Resources
       Kui Buri National Park is endowed with an abundance and diversity of natural resources. It is home to some essential wild animals  including Asian Elephants, Bantengs, Gaurs, Serows, Fea's Barking Deers, Barking Deers, tigers, leopards, Asiatic Black Bears, langurs and common gibbons.

Preserved Wildlife found in Kui Buri National Park
          Mammals in the park includes Marbled Cat, Dugong, Fea'Barking Deer, Eastern Sarus Crane, Serow, Long-Tailed Goral, Brow-Antlered Deer, Schomburgk's Deer, Kouprey, Wild Water Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malayan Tapir, Gurney's Pitta, and White-Eyed River-Martin under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 1992. Kui Buri National Park conducted a survey and found four species.
Birds such as Great Hornbills, Oriental Pied Hornbills, Wreathed Hornbills, Tickell's Brown Hornbills, Hill Mynas, Hoopos, White-Rumped Shamas, Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Bornean Crested Firebacks, and Red Junglefowls are also found.
Kui Buri National Park is home to a variety of butterflies, including Malayan Birdwing Butterfly, Banded Peacock Butterfly, and Green Dragontail Butterfly.

Asian Elephants in Kuiburi
          Kui Buri National Park is home to no fewer than 237 Asian elephants, most of which are concentrated in the central area surrounding the National Park Headquarters. They were also discovered in Ban Yan Sue and Ban Phubon, in groups of 20 to 30 animals.
Rangers discovered between five and ten Asian elephants foraging in small herds or alone in the dense forest of the central Kui Buri National Park Ranger Station at Ko Ro No. 1, Pa Yang, and The Royal Initiattive of Kui Buri National Reserved Forest Area Conservation and Rehabilitation Project was established. As a result, around 180 large and small wild elephants, as well as several newborn baby elephants, were discovered living in herds (data as of December 2017).

Guars
        It was discovered that the guars came out to graze on grass and salt licks,  normally after the Asian elephants had fed. There are currently no fewer than 250 guars, divided into large and small herds. Each herd contained multiple calves, indicating that they were extremely fertile.
Banteng
   The survey discovered seven Bantengs, six males and one female. It is discovered living in a herd of guars.

Tiger
      Tigers inhabit Kui Buri forest, which is a part of Kaeng Krachan Forest Group. It is Thailand's second most important place and the fourth in the world. From 2006 to 2012, nine tigers were discovered in Kui Buri National Park.
Note: According to the 2012 survey, tigers are not present in the area at the moment. It is currently conducting a survey in collaboration with WWF Thailand.