The festival “Kaeng Krachan Butterfly” is held from March to May every year, with Kaeng Krachan Crocodiles swimming in the water to compliment the scene.
On March 27, 2022, Mr. Pichai Watcharawongpaiboon, Director of the Office of Conservation Area Administration 3, Phetchaburi, received a report from Mr. Itthipol Thaikamol, Head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi Province that the Ban Krang Camp tourist attraction of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province is open to tourists to visit the festival “Kaeng Krachan Butterfly” where tourists can watch them closely at Ban Krang Camp, the way up to Khao Phanoen Thung during March to May every year.
As for “Kaeng Krachan Butterfly”, there are more than 250 species to see and will come out in a large number once a year during this period, which is during the dry season without much rain. These butterflies will not swarm flowers for nectar, but it seeks for minerals and those in salt marshes on the ground. There are many along the banks of wet streams. If there is strong sunlight, you will be able to see them almost all day.
The best time to watch them is from the morning until noon. The best butterfly viewing spot in Ban Krang Camp is at the stream that crosses the youth camp, which is a little far from the parking lot of Ban Krang camp. Tourists can walk there comfortably. You will find a flock of butterflies coming out to feed on the edge of the stream, which will cling together in a large flock on the ground where you will be able to get up-close pictures, but be careful not to step on the butterflies because there are many and little. There are also points for bird watching, butterfly watching, and nature study trails where tourists can find many kinds of plants and wildlife with a peaceful atmosphere.
Mr. Ittithi Thaikamol, Head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, revealed that during March 22-26, the study and research team of Kaeng Krachan National Park together with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Thailand came to explore the biodiversity of the Phetchaburi River From Khao Phanoen Thung Forest Protection Unit to Huai Mae Saliang Forest Protection Unit by rubber rafting for 4 nights, 5 days, a distance of about 35 km to explore wildlife traces and install and collect data from wildlife camera traps. The results showed that a freshwater crocodile (Siamese crocodile), a Thai species, was in critical condition. Other wild animals such as hyenas, stags, smooth-haired otters, and chamois that were spotted showed abundance and the diversity of ecosystems in the World Heritage forest area in which the officials try to protect the Kaeng Krachan Forest World Heritage Site to prevent continued hunting.
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is the 6th World Heritage Site of Thailand, and the 3rd Natural World Heritage Site in Thailand since the registration of the World Heritage Site of Thung Yai – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in 1991 and the Dong Forest Group. Phayayen – Khao Yai in 2005. The place is located in the area of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, covering 4 protected forest areas, namely the Phachi River Wildlife Sanctuary. Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park Kaeng Krachan National Park and Kui Buri National Park. The area stretches across approximately 2.5 million rai (4,089 square kilometers) with a length from the north to the south of the area, more than 200 kilometers, acting as an important watershed source of the Phetchaburi River, Pranburi River and the Phachi River, and a large tract of fertile forest consisting of the Sundaic, Sino-Himalayan, Indochinese and Indo-Burmese regions.
