Birding Sites in Ranong
Laem Son National Park
Lam Nam Kraburi National Park
Klong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary
Ranong Coastal Resources Research Station
Birding in Ranong
Ranong does not have wide road coverage like other provinces, meaning that much of the province is still quite inaccessible by car. Coupled with the fact that the province does not have much to offer for the average tourist, Ranong is easily bypassed as “just another province” on the day’s drive to Phuket or Phang Nga. Most visitors to Ranong are there out of necessity, making a border run or taking care of other legal work.
For these and other reason which I haven’t stated, Ranong is a province which is quite under watched. Looking at the natural state of the province, one does have to contemplate the countless possibilities this area has to offer. For one, Ranong is blessed with a huge tract of virgin mangrove forests, much like that of its sister province, Phang Nga. The tall, mature forests are home to an abundance of wildlife, much of which is still being poached and hunted to this very day. Tiger, elephant, guar, deer and leopard are well-known throughout the province and many species of birds, especially hornbill, can be seen, sometimes without even having to enter the forest! On occasion one can find large flocks of Wreathed or Great Hornbill flying over Ranong town heading towards the Burmese border. As with most local people, they have grown accustomed to seeing this spectacle to the point they have taken it for granted and are quite uninterested.
Likewise, some birders have reported large flocks of raptors on migration and some evidence has pointed to the fact that Ranong, like Chumporn, may be just as good for raptors. Most of the attention during this event is focused on Radar Hill in Chumporn, and in recent years more attention is being diverted to Ranong as an alternative site where one can witness this incredible event. The annual raptor festival in Chumporn, which attracts ornithologists and birders alike from all over the globe, is a smashing success story for conservationists hoping to highlight the need to further protect Thailand’s natural heritage. If Ranong receives more birding coverage, I believe this province will become a popular birding destination in the future, providing substantial birding records and happy memories for years to come.
Reviews on birding locations in Ranong are limited, due to the fact that I hardly ever visit this province. As more birders start to document interesting birding locations, I hope to be able to post more information on this area in the future.
Natural history
Ranong is a province of immense natural beauty. Like Phang Nga, it is blessed to have retained much of its wildlife and nature. Still today there are few tourists who make a point to visit the national parks and waterfalls of this province. Evidence of large mammals can still be seen in some of its parks and there are huge swaths of vintage forest in the hills, much of which is still untamed wilderness.
The people of Ranong lead simple lives for the most part, although in the past Ranong was a city of great importance to the Siamese kingdom. Acting as Siams’ door to the Andaman Sea, Ranong was a major trading city, as evidenced today by its populated port, which now devotes its attention to the fishing industry. Frequent wars with the Mon Empire of Burma meant it traded hands regularly, but it wasn’t until the British colonization of Burma that Ranong saw extended periods of peace and prosperity. When Siam traded Tenasserim and Kedah to the British, Ranong became Thailand’s new southwest border, prompting Bangkok to pay more attention to the invaluable trading hub, which not only saw increased imports of raw materials and laborers from the west and south, but also facilitated the exports of tin, a commodity in high demand in those days.
Despite having only three national parks (with an additional park being considered for national park status) most of Ranong is still rich with forest, although much of it is encroached with small settlements interspersed throughout. Locals collect rattan, fruits and other products from the forest and hunting still occurs in small settlements near the forests. Despite this, the human impact on the forest is relatively low and most of the larger trees still stand, giving hope that perhaps for once, man and nature will be able to co-exist in a peaceful manner without having to declare more national parks (which does not always guarantee added protection, as is the case with other national parks throughout Thailand.)
