TH034
Khao Ang Ru Nai


Site description (2004 baseline):

Site location and context
The IBA comprises Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in south-eastern Thailand. The site is contiguous with Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH033) to the east. The topography of the site is characterised by level lowlands and low hills dissected by large streams. The site supports the largest block of semi-evergreen forest and evergreen forest on level lowlands remaining in Thailand; however, much of this forest block has been selectively logged. The site also supports some mixed deciduous forest and there are a few limestone outcrops in the south. The site experiences high rainfall, receiving the brunt of the south-west monsoon off the Gulf of Thailand, and supports high levels of plant diversity.

Key biodiversity
Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary is a wintering site for the globally threatened Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus. A second globally threatened species, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, has also been recorded at the site but is not thought to regularly occur in significant numbers, while the globally endangered Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius is known from an historical record from 1984. The site also supports three globally near-threatened species: Siamese Fireback Lophura diardi, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis and Moustached Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx vagans. The site supports a number of species characteristic of the Indochinese element of the Thai avifauna, including Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo Carpococcyx renauldi and Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus, both of which are national threatened, and Eastern Green Magpie Cissa hypoleuca, which is restricted within Thailand to a few hills in the south-east of the country.

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals Banteng Bos javanicus (EN) Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (EN) Tiger Panthera tigris (EN) Gaur Bos frontalis (VU) Asian Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii (VU) Dhole Cuon alpinus (VU) Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU) Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (VU) Reptiles Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis (CR)



Habitat and land use
The IBA comprises Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in south-eastern Thailand. The site is contiguous with Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH033) to the east. The topography of the site is characterised by level lowlands and low hills dissected by large streams. The site supports the largest block of semi-evergreen forest and evergreen forest on level lowlands remaining in Thailand; however, much of this forest block has been selectively logged. The site also supports some mixed deciduous forest and there are a few limestone outcrops in the south. The site experiences high rainfall, receiving the brunt of the south-west monsoon off the Gulf of Thailand, and supports high levels of plant diversity.

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Hunting, exploitation of forest products, forest fire and agricultural encroachment are the main threats to biodiversity at the site. Approximately 5% of the site has been encroached by agriculture, chiefly shifting cultivation. The mitigation of these threats is complicated by the presence of a resident human population within the wildlife sanctuary.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khao Ang Ru Nai (Thailand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khao-ang-ru-nai-iba-thailand on 23/11/2024.