Khao Yai

We've spent two full days in Khao Yai National Park.  We were met here by faculty colleagues who study gibbon ecology at Thai universities and two former graduate students who studied bird ecology.  So we had outstanding expertise on-hand for our sunrise treks to see gibbons and birds in the tropical forest.  Because our group is pretty large, we split into two smaller groups.  Ajarn Mark and I each took a group and on each day, one group saw gibbons and the other birds; then we switched on the next day.  In the afternoons, we hiked to see some spectacular waterfalls.

This national park is loaded with wildlife; many species come out at night.  Three Malayan porcupines foraged each night behind our guest house.  How neat is that?

My group went birdwatching on the first morning.  We met at 6:30, just a little before sunrise. Sara, Jake, Kyler, Maggie, Alysa, Hally, Dana, and Olivia are sporting their new leech socks.

We walked along a backroad in the national park for one part of our birdwatching morning, then moved to a grassland to see other species.

It was a little chilly early in the morning because we are at higher elevation.  We layered clothing, so we could go down to t-shirts after the sun started warming us.

The collared owlet is seldom seen.  One of our bird guides had never seen one before, so this was a particularly good find by Jake.

In the grassy area, we were a little on edge because we had seen a video of a tiger attack in tall grass during our fall semester class.  Fortunately, they tend not to bother people on Sundays.

Sara, Olivia, and Dana.  Sunny and mid-80s... just another great day!

Our grassland path took us to a wildlife observation tower.

Hally, Dana, and Sara looking at a lake behind the tower.

No trip to Khao Yai is complete without juggling elephant evidence.

Here are the students leaving their guest housing for a hike to Haew Suwat Waterfall.

Anna.

Jess.

Kelly.

Kyler, Jess, Kelly, Carlie, Jake (front to back)

Crossing a small creek using a downed tree created a good photo moment.  Jess was first.

Carlie.

Carley.

Anna's next.

Two crocodiles are known to occur in that stream.  The coast was clear, so a few of us went down and explored the shallow stream and exposed rocks.

At the destination was Haew Suwat.  This waterfall was featured in the movie "The Beach."

On our gibbon jungle treks, each group stopped by this medium-sized fig tree.

Ajarn Mark's group on their gibbon day.

Anna, Becca, Carlie, Kelly, Ajarn Uey, Aww (Thai technician), Jess, Gabi (front), Carley (back), Ajarn Mink, Ajarn Mark. 

Becca took this nicely framed photo of a buff colored white-handed gibbon. 

Ajarn Mink is explaining aspects of tropical forest ecology to Maggie, Alysa, Olivia, and Jake.

The gibbon ajarns and students in my group taking a selfie.

Another afternoon hike took us to  Paw Dio Dai (Lonely Cliff).  Most of our students braved the height.  This is Jess.

Becca.

Anna.  Somebody said "Walk like an Egyptian"...

Carley.

The group at Haew Narok Waterfall.