Doi Suthep Non-Hunting Area

Hi. I've been living in Chiang Mai for about 2 years now. I've mostly explored around CNX so far, so no trips yet to the better national parks.

A while back, I visited Wat Umong and discovered that it's adjacent to an area with some wildlife, ie, banteng and a few species of deer.

I'm curious and I haven't gotten any good answers from the Thais that I've asked, what's the status of this place? Is it a zoo? Wildlife sanctuary? How far back into the mountain do the enclosures go? It appears that they are willing to let the small deer mingle with the banteng, but keep the larger deer separate.

I wonder what their long range plan with this project might be?

Thanks in advance.

Never been but I looked on Google Maps and it's called: สถานีพัฒนาและส่งเสริมการอนุรักษ์สัตว์ป่าเชิงดอยสุเทพ จ.เชียงใหม่ / Choengdoisuthep Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension

Maybe just some kind of captive breeding/research programme. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries have similar places e.g. Huai Kha Kaeng. Phu Pha Man National Park also has one.

Thank you! Even my Thai friend hasn't been able to illuminate the matter. I reckon that the animals are not really wild if they are being fed and confined in any way (although being protected from hunters may form an exception).

Hey, I got a little more information about this place.


Google translate:
“(In the) Year 2517, the Royal Forest Department went to explore the National Forest Reserve area in the east of Doi Suthep National Forest. Which was invaded and cleared as habitat and established an organization named "Wildlife raising and breeding". Later, in 1975, the Royal Forest Department established the Wildlife Conservation Division to expand the fence in the area of 100 acres and 4 gazelles for the first time. Later, many more types of poultry were released. And changed the name of this new organization that "Dharma Institute and Wildlife Research Center Choeng Doi Suthep" for the public, students and students to come to travel, relax and find knowledge about wildlife. Conservation of natural resources and the environment In the following years, the center considered that Wildlife corridors are confined. The problem of insufficient wildlife food is to expand the enclosure to an area of 1,000 rai so that existing wildlife can earn their own living and release more wildlife. And changed the name of the center Last time was "Choeng Doi Suthep Wildlife Conservation Development and Promotion Station" under the Wildlife Conservation Division, Department of Forestry.”

“Wildlife under the care of the station Most are local wildlife. …Which has been donated and donated by the wildlife in the middle of a violation of the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. The station has maintained these wildlife for educational benefits, academic research and the enjoyment of tourists and The general public includes red cows, wild deer, barking deer, gazelles, deer, deer, musk, wild pigs, monkeys, gibbons, wolves, pheasant, bears, turtles, birds Various squirrels, chipmunks, etc. In addition to the wildlife that has lived in this forest before, such as barking deer, musk deer, soft musk or pangolin, wild birds, etc. Bird types include doves, drongos, bulrushes, bulbuls, parrots, small parrots, bulbul. Woodpecker, canary, beckon, grebe, red duck, etc."

From the site:
web3.dnp.go.th/wildlifenew/animConserveDepView.aspx?depId=73

thanks for sharing.................

Okay, it turns out my girlfriend is a good friend of a lady who works there as a ranger. The proper name of the place in English is "The Choen Doi Suthep Wildlife Conservation Development and Promotion Station" (สถานีพัฒนาและส่งเสริมการอนุรักษ์สัตว์ป่าเชิงดอยสุเทพ จ.เชียงใหม่ ). I just call it the Wildlife Park, or Suen Satpa.

She took us on a short hike through the woods.

The banteng (Bos javanicus) are semi-tame, in that they are fed by humans, and gates and fences keep them from straying into populated areas. And I think they receive some medical care when needed. But that's about it. From what I understand, there's nothing to keep the animals from climbing uphill into Doi Suthep.

The actual park is 620 rai or about 200 acres. There are hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus), sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) and Eld's deer (Panolia eldii). On my last trip, I'm sure I spotted a Bengal monitor and the ranger confirmed it.

Here's some news: they are training guides right now to share the park with visitors. Up to this point, schoolchildren would come en masse to learn about nature and ecology, but now I think they are planning to present it in a more tourist-friendly manner. There's a museum there, which has only materials in Thai language. They could use some better displays in English of course.

If you're in the area, it's worthwhile to check out.

Hey, me and the missus went back again. We are just calling it Choeng Doi for short, which just means "foothill". Her friend now works at Chiang Dao instead, so I guess we'll visit there next.
We brought a bunch of nam wa bananas to share with the bantengs, but beware they can be aggressive being wild and whatnot.
The folks at this place said they are seeing dhole (Cuon alpinus) in the early mornings, besides banteng, and at least three species of deer. The Eld's deer herd is growing.
The guides that I saw them training before are there for birding. If you go to the preserve at around 8 am, you can hook up with a birding guide and borrow some binoculars. If you're lucky you can find one who speaks English. That's on the bucket list soon.