Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve

Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve is located in the area of Ban Sam Toei in Tambon Thung Luilai, Amphoe Khon San, Chaiyaphum. The center covers an area of around 67.2 hectares. The landscape is made of mountain ridges spreading south. At 560 metres above sea level, most of the mountainous land is composed of loam and, in certain areas, lateritic soil mixed with rocks. The reserve is rainy from May to October. In November, the weather starts getting cold until summer arrives in March and April. The weather is cool during the night. The area is made of dry dipterocarp forest. Some new-grown plants are banyan tree, Indian gooseberry, Jambolan Plum, Indian plum and bamboo. In 1983, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen travelled in helicopter over Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve, one the few forest areas which are left in Northeast Thailand. “Phu Khieo has high, vast plain. The land is fertile and suitable for animal to live, so this area should become an open zoo. However, we need to develop villages and create jobs for all people living nearby, in other to prevent them from destroying forest or hunt wild animals, and run the zoo successfully,” said the King and the Queen. According to the thought, the 2nd Army, the 25th Joint Civilian Police and Military Command in Chaiyaphum Province, Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve, Khon Khaen University and other government offices collaborated to launch a number of projects, which are village development project, public education enrichment project, wildlife conservation project and wildlife breeding project. The last project was at the time run by Wildlife Breeding Department, Wildlife Conservation Office, Forest Department. In 1984, Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve was established in the area of Sam Toei Village, Thung Luilai Sub District, Khon San District, Chaiyaphum Province. Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve is open daily from 8.30 a.m.-4.00 p.m. There are knowledgeable staff who can provide information on wildlife for visitors. Please book in advance. Accommodation is available for around ten people. Contact the Watershed Management Unit of Thung Luilai, Chulabhorn Dam and Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve. The house locations are around 7, 8 and 30 kilometers from Phu Khieo Wildlife Reserve relatively.