Malaysian Nature Society
at Khao Sok, March 25-28

A group of professional scientists, naturalists and nature lovers recently visited Our Jungle House and saw some amazing wildlife on the lake. The Society (MNS) is the oldest and largest environmental NGO in Malaysia. Among other accomplishments, MNS succeeded in getting a large are of lowland rainforest declared a national park. However, until now, there has been little inter-action between them and Thai naturalists.

Despite rains that poured down during most of the 4-day visit, the members had a great time and were excited by the variety of bird life as well as rare large mammals spotted on the trip. One of their three nights was spent at the extreme northern end of the ChioLarn reservoir, where the original river still flows into the reservoir. This area is a wildlife sanctuary with very few visitors, and is one of the few places in Thailand that can guarantee sitings of rare mammals. The star attractions are the wild cattle – gaur and banteng, known in Malay as seladang and tembedau respectively. Weighing over a ton and clothed in white stockings and curling white horns, the gaur is the largest wild bovine in the world. Extremely endangered in Malaysia, it is still possible to see it in the wilder parts of Thailand.

Great hornbills, Oriental Pied Hornbills, sea eagles, fish eagles, barking deer, and sambar deer were also on the menu (seen not eaten).

Click on below images to view full image.

Photo credits
Deer by Ille Gebeshuber
Hornibill in flight by J.C. Tan

The group also enjoyed the Thai food, especially the fresh fish caught at the reservoir. The Thai hosts for their part were gratified to see that Malaysians can eat their hottest chillis.