Travel news - Eco tourism and national parks in Thailand

The Oriental darter makes a comeback

Over the past few decades, local ornithologists had come to accept that the Oriental darter, or nok ai-ngua in Thai, was on the verge of extinction. Only one or two specimen, whose scientific name is Anhinga melanogaster, were occasionally spotted at sites, namely Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary and Khao Yai National Park.

Then in 2000, bird-watchers had a delightful surprise: a large flock of the Oriental darter was found in a farmland at Ban Klong Malakaw in Muang District of Sa Kaeo Province.

There were more than 50 birds. And they were nesting!

Over the past few years, the nesting site has been promoted as Sa Kaeo's new eco-tourist attraction.

Since the discovery of the site, a local group called Pang Sida Conservation Association has been campaigning to promote awareness about the birds and their habits, and the need to preserve their nesting habitat, among villagers and their children.

Thira Saengsuradech, president of the association, has succeeded in educating villagers about the Oriental darter's role in nature and commissioned a study to establish its behaviour patterns in order to ensure better protection for the species.

The sighting of the birds has reinforced Sa Kaeo's tourism potential, especially its ability to attract homestay and eco-tourists.

The provincial administration has joined hands with the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Pang Sida Conservation Club and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to make the nesting site a sustainable tourist attraction.

As such, Sa Kaeo has designated the period starting October to January as "bird watching season" and is inviting visitors to Ban Khlong Malakaw and Phra Prong Reservoir in Wattana Nakhon District, nearby.

Apart from the nok ai-ngua, bird watchers can also admire the large cormorant and different species of heron, etc.

"Every year we hear reports of sighting of the birds in provinces such as Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri, Chaiyaphum, Surat Thani, Chumphon and Samut Prakan. It's a good sign that a species that was on the verge of extinction is making a comeback," Thira said.

In local parlance nok ai-ngua has another name, snake bird, because it pounces its prey with the precision and agility of a snake. The bird, 90 centimetres long, has webbed feet and long neck that it uses to telling effect to catch fish hiding under water.

The birds go into nesting during the rainy season for which they choose tall trees with thick cover of leaves. Their habitat stretches from India to the countries of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Sulawesi in Indonesia .

Forty years ago they could be seen nesting on tall trees on Bangkok's Wireless Road, but after the trees were chopped down to make way for residential and commercial properties they took flight. Now they can be spotted sporadically at Wat Tan En in Ayutthaya , and Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.

During the rainy season they migrate from Cambodia to nest in Sa Kaeo, making the province their biggest nesting ground in Thailand . They usually forage within a radius of 150 kilometres.

The spotting of the birds should bring a sense of relief to Sa Kaeo governor Somchai Choomrat whose province is among the poorest _ ranking a low 52 in terms of per capita income among the 76 provinces nationwide _ and could do with the extra cash generated by its new tourist attraction.

MoreINFO

Every year from August to January about 50 Oriental darters nest at Ban Khlong Malakaw in Sa Kaeo Province.

Travellers are advised to contact Visitor Centre at Ban Khlong Malakaw School (01-861-2491) for access to the observation spot.

At Phra Pong Lake in Wattana Nakhon District, 60 kilometres from the first observatory, contact Chong Koom Tambon Administration Office (037-261-020, 01-991-7759) for boat service.

For travel enquiries, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region VIII Office in Nakhon Nayok at 037-312-282, 037-312-284, and Sa Kaeo Travel Centre can be reached at 037-425-032.

For meals there is a restaurant by the lake which serves excellent fish-based dishes.

Other places of interest are Pang Sida National Park , the Wildlife Breeding Research Station at Chong Klam Bon, and Lalu, a canyon-like landscape in Ta Phraya District.

Sadok Kokthom, a Khmer-style stone sanctuary is also within easy reach from Ban Khlong Malakaw.

Alternatively, tourists can travel all the way to the Cambodian border to visit the Rong Kluea fleece market.
Bangkok Post September 2005 www.bangkokpost.com