Thung Salaeng Luang National Park


Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a 1,262 km2 national park in Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Wang Thong and Lom Sak Districts.

Topography

The park consists of limestone hills, slate and hardpan at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1,028 meters. Thung Salaeng Luang is inlaid with meadows, especially in the southern portions of the park. The park is the source of numerous streams. There are large salt licks at Pong Sai in the northwest and Pong Thung Phaya in the southwest. The Wang Thong River flows through the park.

Flora

Deciduous dipterocarp and mixed evergreen-deciduous forest with lowland shrub, such as Mussaenda parva and broadleaved evergreen, such as Livistona palm and Phoenix Loureiri palm.
Plants include Barleria strigosa, Ardisia crenata and Pseuderanthemum andersonii.

Fauna

Large mammals include Asian elephant, Gaur, barking deer and Sambar deer. Small mammals include Yellow-throated marten, Masked palm civet, white handed gibbon, Crab-eating macaque, Slow loris, Black giant squirrel and Burmese hare. This national park is famous for its butterflies, such as Common archduke.
Birds include.
further not specified.

Climate

The average annual temperature is 25 °C, although temperatures often reach 30 °C during late spring and early summer. The average annual rainfall is 1.7 meters.

History

Thung Salaeng Luang was proposed for inclusion in the national parks system In 1959. Thung Salaeng Luang was declared a national park in 1972. From the late-1960s to the early-1980s, the park's forest was used as a base for guerrillas of the Communist Party of Thailand.

Places

Historically, malaria has been a health issue in the park.

Effects of human presence

Communist insurgents as well as hill tribes and other intruders have destroyed some of the park's flora and fauna over the years.

Facilities

There are seven bungalows at the park's headquarters and five bungalows at Nong Mae Na office. There are also four campsites at the park. There are no concessions in the park.