Thailand: Forest of Life

Known as one of the last refuges for the Indochinese tiger, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in western Thailand is a success story in wildlife conservation. As well as tiger, the reserve boasts healthy populations of other large mammals including Asian Elephant, Gaur, Banteng, Leopard and Indian Water Buffalo.

The album is named ‘Forest of Life’ because of the incredible diversity of wildlife supported by the distinctive dry dipterocarp (deciduous) forest found here, especially large mammals. It is rare in South-east Asia for such a large tract of prime habitat to survive, and the variety of habitats, from evergreen rainforest to dry open woodlands and grassy meadows, provides a sanctuary to healthy populations of wildlife.

This album follows a day in these forests, from the first light of dawn through to dusk. See below for listening notes on the album, and a list of the species that can be heard.

The album begins as dawn breaks in the forest, with various bird species becoming active as the light brightens. Crickets trill, and an Asian Barred Owlet calls occasionally along with Sooty-headed Bulbuls, Black-hooded Oriole, Lineated Barbet and a White-rumped Shama. A party of White-crested Laughingthrush move through the undergrowth near the microphones.

From about 5:00, for a couple of minutes, the soft bubbly call of a Rufous Treepie can be heard, and the loud mournful cries of the endangered Green Peafowl (eg. 4:55) ring through the forest. Other birds start to sing as the day warms up, including Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Puff-throated Babbler, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Changeable Hawk-eagle. Frogs occasionally call from a nearby marsh.

At 14:48 the recording moves into a forested evergreen gully where, if you listen carefully, you can hear the delicate sound of water trickling in a small creek nearby. A Red-billed Blue Magpie squawks noisily as it flies off, and Lineated Barbets call throughout. Red-breasted Parakeets call and fly about overhead, and White-handed Gibbons sing in the far distance.

Afternoon in the deciduous forest begins close to 24:10 with a disgruntled squeal from a Wild Boar! Black-hooded Orioles sing with melodious fluty whistles, and a Red Turtle Dove makes rolling cooing calls from a nearby tree. Bulbuls, White-crested Laughingthrush, White-bellied Woodpecker, Green Peafowl & Greater Coucal can all be heard in this stretch.

As the warm afternoon light fills the forest (from about 31:45), Black-hooded Orioles continue to sing. White-crested Laughingthrush move through the forest and a Black Giant Squirrel makes its loud staccato call from the canopy above.

Near 43:20 it is close to sunset and much of the forest is in shadow. A Brown Wood Owl hoots in the fading light, while a number of diurnal birds are still active. A Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher sings sweet wispy melodies from the undergrowth, and a Thai Golden Jackal howls mournfully.

The final section of the album, from 48:08, was recorded deep in the wildlife sanctuary and features the distant roars of a female Indochinese Tiger. Three distinct roar sequences can be heard, although two of them are quite soft (the first starts at approximately 48:20, the second at 51:26 and the third and loudest at 54:13). If you’re listening on a mobile device or laptop, you might need to put on some headphones to appreciate this amazing sound! A Brown Hawk Owl makes its constant tu-woop call, as a Brown Wood Owl hoots occasionally. A Common Muntjac (or Barking Deer) can be heard ‘barking’ between 50:58 and 53:58.