General Information
In the past this national park is only
the sea shore forest park of Khao Lak, until Mr. Somchit
Suksanga, village chief of Mu 3, Kapong sub-district,
Kapong, Phang Nga, had proposed to the assistant
minister of agricultural and cooperative on September
26, 1984 for considering to declare the forest of Amphoe
Ka Pong and nearby forest to be the conservation forest
for conserving the origin or source of water of Phang
Nga province which still be the perfect forest and has a
lot of wild animals. Forever, this area still has a
colorful tourist attraction, especially many small
waterfalls. This area became the 66th national park on
August 30, 1991 namely "Khao Lak -Lam Ru National Park
covers 125 squarekilometre
Geography
General geography consists of many
mountains such as Lak mountain, Lam Ru mountain, Sang
Tong mountain, Mai Kaeo mountain and Prai Bang Toa
mountain. The highest peak is about 1,077 meters about
the sea level which is the origin of the important
rivers of Phang Nga province, namely Ta Kua Pa river and
Phang Nga river and also consisting of many small canals
and streams. The Khao Lak - Lam Ru national park office
is located in the shore area nearby sea covering the
rock beach ecological system, sand beach and coral
ecological system.
Climate
The Khao Lak - Lam Ru national park is
located in the western coast of Andaman sea, let it get
an influence of southwestern monsoon wind and
northeastern monsoon wind which induce to have raining
for almost all year round. It's two seasons, hot season
starting from January till April and raining season
starting from May till December which would have a lot
of rainfall.
Flora and Fauna
The majority of the park is covered by
Tropical evergreen forest, some is still pristine,
whereas in other areas human encroachment has altered
the forest structure. In some places the original forest
has been completely replaced by fruit trees or rubber
plantations. The park also has some small areas of
coastal habitat and small secluded sandy beaches.
Tropical evergreen forest, this occurs on the forested
hills of Khao Lak. In places with little human
disturbance this forest is highly differentiated with; a
ground flora, an undergrowth of seedlings, then a canopy
of three levels, lower, intermediate and upper and above
this a few emergent forest giants. The principle tree
species recorded include; Dipterocarpus sp., Alstonia
scolaris, Anisoptera costata, Michelia champaca,
Syzygium sp., Hopea odorata, Mimusops elengi, several
palm (Palmae) species and Bamboo (Gramineae). This
forest is also very rich in epiphytes such as Orchids
and ferns, and snaking between the trees are Lianes and
many climbers including Rattans.
In small patches near the coast the forest includes many
marine tolerant species including; Barringtonia asiatica,
Anacardium occidentale and Pandanus odoratissimus.
Wild Animals
Mammal animals consists of Colugo, Binturong, Malaysian
weasel, Drynaria. bonii H. Christ, Bat and the big
mammal animals found here are. Sumatran serow, Malayan
Tapir, etc.
Retiles could be classified into the daytime living
reptiles such as Idian or Bengal Monitor, etc. and the
reptiles that you could find directly are Snake such as
Iridescent earth snake, Malayan pit viper, and
White-lipped pit viper.
Amphibians such as Bufo asper Gravenhorst, Rana laticeps
Boulenger, and Heymon's Froglet, etc.
Birds, from survey could be classified into 15
class-orders 108 families, for example Crested
serpent-eagle, White-bellied sea-eagle, Emerald Dove and
Scarlet Minivet , etc. while the big birds could be
found 3 types, namely Bushy-crest hornbill, Oriental
pied hornbill, and Homrai.
Daytime butterflies, most of them could be found in the
primary rainforest, especially in the creek or pond
area. The daytime butterflies are defined as conserved
animals totally 3 types, namely Troides aeacus thomsoni,
Trodes amphrysus ruficollis, and Stichophthalma godfreyi.
Sea animals , for example the sea cucumber group such as
Black Cucumber, H. scabra, etc. , the hedgehog group
such as Malayan Porcupine, etc., the sea slug such as
Feather star, etc., the fish group such as Morey eel,
Lizardfish, Long Tom, etc., the star group such as
Feather star, the crab group such as Giant murex, Tiger
Cowrie.
