Current view: Text account
Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest Complex. To the east the site is contiguous with Mae Ping National Park, while, to the south, it is contiguous with Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary. The area is partly mountainous, with steep topography and deep valleys in some places, but also supports some more gently sloping hills and plains. Habitats present comprise extensive areas of lowland mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, hill evergreen forest, which dominates above 1,200 m in the western part of the site, some coniferous forest, and various successional habitats resulting from shifting cultivation.
The site lies within the Myanmar-Thailand Mountains Secondary Area (SA080), and is one of only three IBAs in Thailand known to support Burmese Yuhina Yuhina humilis, the restricted-range species that defines this Secondary Area. In addition, there is an historical record of the globally vulnerable Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae from 1982, and three globally near-threatened species have also been recorded at the site: Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus. The latter species, which was recorded at the site in 1996 and 1997, is on the verge of extinction in Thailand. There is also an unconfirmed report of the globally vulnerable Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna from the site.
The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 15 species restricted to the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone (Biome 11).
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals
Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (EN)
Tiger Panthera tigris (EN)
Gaur Bos frontalis (VU)
Asian Gold(EN) Cat Catopuma temminckii (VU)
Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (VU)
Bear Macaque Macaca arctoides (VU)
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU)
Long-tailed Goral Naemorhedus caudatus (VU)
Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (VU)
Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus (VU)
The IBA comprises Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest Complex. To the east the site is contiguous with Mae Ping National Park, while, to the south, it is contiguous with Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary. The area is partly mountainous, with steep topography and deep valleys in some places, but also supports some more gently sloping hills and plains. Habitats present comprise extensive areas of lowland mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, hill evergreen forest, which dominates above 1,200 m in the western part of the site, some coniferous forest, and various successional habitats resulting from shifting cultivation.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Part of the site was formerly a logging concession. Shifting cultivation, agricultural intensification (especially in level lowland areas), competition from introduced animal species, hunting and firewood collection are the main threats to biodiversity at the site. Access to forested areas of the site by local communities has been is facilitated by the Bhumiphom dam, which was constructed in 1963.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Om Koi (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/om-koi-iba-thailand on 23/12/2024.
