Page 37 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

Khao Sok National Park ❮❮ 35

Clouded Leopard
Malaysian Sun Bear
8 0
Exceptional climbers, with
A small bear that generally
large feet and powerful claws, weighs less than 143 lb (65 kgs), this
clouded leopards have a beautiful threatened animal resides in dense
yellow-brown coat with distinctive forests, where it sleeps and suns
cloud markings. The animal sleeps itself in trees. An omni vore, the
in trees and can hang upside down sun bear has no real predators,
from branches by its hind paws. Its other than the occa sional human.
prey includes small mammals and
birds, among other creatures.
Elephant
9
Wild elephants still roam
Khao Sok National Park but
sadly, these majestic creatures,
the symbol of Thailand, are an
endangered species. Herds of
elephants can occasionally be
spotted in forested areas near
watering holes and elsewhere. Malaysian Sun Bear foraging
HISTORY OF THE PARK

Before it was declared a national park in 1980, TOP 10
the forest-covered land known as Khao Sok FLORA IN KHAO SOK
was a wilder ness that stretched to Myanmar. NATIONAL PARK
Few roads bisected this territory, and animal 1 Rain forest vegetation
populations, including tigers, flourished. When 2 Coconut palms
Ratchaprapha Dam was built in the mid-
1980s, numerous trees were chopped down. 3 Buttressed roots trees
Poachers also threatened the stability of some 4 Ficus trees
animal populations. Today, under the protec - 5 Bamboo trees
tion of the National Park Service, Khao Sok is 6 Tropical pitcher plants
home to lots of exotic species, and many 7 Dipterocarps trees
poachers have become conservationists.
8 Rafflesia kerrii
Liana vines string themselves from tree to tree, 9 Banana trees
forming sky bridges used by wildlife to get about. 10 Liana vines

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