Environment News

Thailand environment news, climate change, sustainability, and natural disasters—stay updated on eco-initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy efforts. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for environmental news in Thailand.

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  • Kao unveils ‘Green Pavement’ project for sustainable road solutions | Thaiger

    Kao unveils ‘Green Pavement’ project for sustainable road solutions

    Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of consumer and chemical products, has joined forces with the Faculty of Engineering at Chiang Mai University to roll out the ‘Green Pavement’ project for more sustainable roads. This initiative showcases Kao’s innovative NEWTLAC technology, which repurposes used PET plastic bottles into a chemical additive for asphalt. This technology enhances road…

  • Tweet deal: Thailand considers delisting bulbul bird to boost green gains | Thaiger

    Tweet deal: Thailand considers delisting bulbul bird to boost green gains

    The government has highlighted the perceived advantages of removing the red-whiskered bulbul, or nok krong hua juk, from the list of protected wildlife species to bolster both conservation efforts and economic growth, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. A working group established by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is tasked with examining…

  • TAT launches Coral College Project, promoting safe & sustainable marine tourism | Thaiger

    TAT launches Coral College Project, promoting safe & sustainable marine tourism

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the Coral College Project, a bilingual e-learning platform that introduces visitors to marine safety, environmental awareness, and responsible tourism practices. Available online at coralcollegethailand.org, the platform is currently being piloted in Phuket with plans to expand nationwide. The initiative responds to the environmental and safety challenges posed by mass marine tourism. With…

  • Thailand to sell water monitor lizards for breeding at 500 baht each | Thaiger

    Thailand to sell water monitor lizards for breeding at 500 baht each

    The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Thailand plans to sell water monitor lizards as breeding stock, highlighting their attractive skin patterns. Business interest has surged, particularly from international markets, positioning these creatures as a new economic asset for locals to breed and sell. During a meeting on July 2, the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee…

  • Thailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia | Thaiger

    Thailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia

    Thailand is preparing to send four rescued orangutans back to Indonesia by the end of the year, marking a symbolic step in the fight against wildlife trafficking — and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that the orangutans were seized in two separate illegal wildlife…

  • Maya Bay closes for conservation from August | Thaiger

    Maya Bay closes for conservation from August

    Thailand’s famed Maya Bay is off-limits once again, as officials shut it down for two months to let nature breathe after another hectic High Season. The popular tourist magnet, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, will be closed along with neighbouring Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The temporary closure, announced by the Department…

  • Pattaya investigates oil pollution in local water source | Thaiger

    Pattaya investigates oil pollution in local water source

    In response to community complaints regarding a significant water source, an investigation has been initiated by local officials. Pattaya officials have launched an investigation into oil and grease pollution discovered in drainage near a local restaurant Concerns were raised about a drainage pipe situated near a popular cycling spot opposite a well-frequented restaurant, close to the Hot Two Point intersection…

  • Flash floods hit Nan province amid heavy rainfall warning (video) | Thaiger

    Flash floods hit Nan province amid heavy rainfall warning (video)

    Heavy rainfall throughout the day and night has triggered flash floods, inundating homes in Nan province. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its first warning, highlighting the potential impact on several provinces. The event occurred today, July 17, when a Facebook page named Nan released a video showing flash floods sweeping through houses in Ban Nam Sod, Thung Chang…

  • Pattaya races to finish mega drainage project before next deluge | Thaiger

    Pattaya races to finish mega drainage project before next deluge

    Pattaya City officials are scrambling to beat the clock as they push to complete a massive drainage overhaul aimed at finally taming the floods that turn roads into rivers every rainy season. The ambitious project, centred along the railway parallel road, will link a giant new pipeline directly to the Huai Yai municipal canal. Once operational, the system is expected…

  • Thailand builds giant bridges to save wild elephants from roads | Thaiger

    Thailand builds giant bridges to save wild elephants from roads

    Thailand has launched two colossal new bridges to stop wild elephants from meeting a grisly end under speeding cars. Yesterday, July 15, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit declared open the towering structures built in Rayong’s Khao Chamao district and Chanthaburi’s Kaeng Hang Maew district—key corridors for elephant herds roaming the east. “These bridges will help wild elephants coexist with humans sustainably,”…

  • Bangkok launches waste separation campaign with fee discounts | Thaiger

    Bangkok launches waste separation campaign with fee discounts

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a new waste-separation campaign named This House Doesn’t Mix Waste. This initiative encourages city residents to sort their waste correctly in exchange for discounts on trash collection fees. Registration for the campaign starts on August 1, with the official rollout scheduled for October. The programme involves collaboration with the private sector and offers…

  • Bangkok sinking: City could be underwater by 2030 | Thaiger

    Bangkok sinking: City could be underwater by 2030

    Bangkok, already notorious for choking traffic and fierce floods, is now staring down an even grimmer fate—sinking beneath the sea within the next decade if climate change and unchecked development continue unabated. Recent studies have singled out Bangkok alongside Jakarta as two of Southeast Asia’s fastest-sinking cities. According to The Guardian, Bangkok is subsiding by over one centimetre a year…

  • Mud, sweat, fears: Thailand landslide warning after monsoon soak | Thaiger

    Mud, sweat, fears: Thailand landslide warning after monsoon soak

    Villagers in northern and eastern Thailand have been told to brace for landslides and flash floods after days of relentless rain left hillsides sodden and unstable. The Department of Mineral Resources sounded the alarm today, July 11, warning that 11 provinces are now at severe risk of geological disasters over the next 48 to 72 hours. The Geological Disaster Operation…

  • Wild elephants forage for food, wreak havoc in Prachin Buri | Thaiger

    Wild elephants forage for food, wreak havoc in Prachin Buri

    A group of five wild elephants, including a mother and calf, from Thap Lan National Park, invaded a worker’s home late at night, causing significant damage as they searched for food. The incident, which marks the sixth consecutive day the elephants have roamed outside the park, occurred yesterday, July 10, in Prachin Buri province. The elephants, part of a herd…

  • Shark ‘n’ awe as blacktip reef sharks swarm Maya Bay in Krabi (video) | Thaiger

    Shark ‘n’ awe as blacktip reef sharks swarm Maya Bay in Krabi (video)

    Tourists got more than just postcard views in Thailand’s paradise bay this month, as researchers spotted a jaw-dropping 158 blacktip reef sharks cruising the shallows in one fin-tastic return to form. Maya Bay, the once-trampled beauty spot made famous by The Beach, is making waves again, this time for all the right reasons. Thai marine boffins say they’ve recorded the…

  • Wave of caution: Patong stages tsunami drill to save lives | Thaiger

    Wave of caution: Patong stages tsunami drill to save lives

    Patong is set to go into full emergency mode this month, as officials prepare to evacuate the town in a massive tsunami drill that could one day mean the difference between life and death. Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri announced the ambitious exercise yesterday, July 8, during a high-level meeting at the Patong Municipality Office. “The safety of everyone in Patong—residents,…

  • Rare Asiatic golden cat filmed in South Thailand national park (video) | Thaiger

    Rare Asiatic golden cat filmed in South Thailand national park (video)

    A camera trap hidden deep in Khao Luang National Park in Nakhon Si Thammarat captured rare footage of the endangered Asiatic golden cat striding through its natural habitat. Park Chief Haritchai Ritchooay revealed yesterday, July 8, that the scientific team and Patrol Unit 2 were behind the remarkable discovery. The image offers a glimpse into the rich biodiversity thriving in…

  • Thailand’s blind elephant becomes loving sanctuary grandma (video) | Thaiger

    Thailand’s blind elephant becomes loving sanctuary grandma (video)

    A once-reclusive elephant who spent years shunning contact has undergone a heart-melting transformation, capturing hearts around the world. Jokia, a blind elephant who survived Thailand’s brutal logging trade, had long preferred her own company, traumatised by a past she couldn’t forget. Rescued by the Save Elephant Foundation, she spent years wandering alone, too wary to bond with her kind. “She…

  • Nature’s surprise: Rare panda crab spotted in Thai national park | Thaiger

    Nature’s surprise: Rare panda crab spotted in Thai national park

    A rare panda crab, known locally as the Sirindhorn Crab, has been spotted crawling across a remote waterfall in the Panoen Thung area at Kaeng Krachan National Park, showcasing the extraordinary biodiversity thriving in Thailand’s western forests. The discovery, shared on the park’s Facebook page on Sunday, July 6, delighted conservationists and nature lovers. The park’s post featured stunning photos…

  • Thailand and Bhutan join forces for sustainable tourism push | Thaiger

    Thailand and Bhutan join forces for sustainable tourism push

    Thailand is rolling out the green carpet for Bhutan as the two nations team up to redefine what sustainable tourism can look like. In a landmark exchange last month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted a high-level delegation from Bhutan’s Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators for four days of hands-on learning and collaboration. “This…

  • Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away | Thaiger

    Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Tourists and locals in Pattaya were left soaked and stranded yesterday as a torrential downpour turned Thailand’s Sin City into a sodden swamp, with over 20 bikes washed away in raging floodwaters. The heavens opened for more than two hours last night, July 1, swamping Bang Lamung district and bringing traffic to a watery standstill. Water levels surged to between…

  • Bangkok Airways takes off with green fuel to slash carbon emissions | Thaiger

    Bangkok Airways takes off with green fuel to slash carbon emissions

    Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is propelling its Low Carbon Skies by Bangkok Airways initiative with a major commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Starting today, July 1, the airline will officially introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its commercial flights, marking a significant step towards a more environmentally friendly future for aviation in Thailand. Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok…

  • Wild tiger spotted observing researchers in Thai wildlife sanctuary (video) | Thaiger

    Wild tiger spotted observing researchers in Thai wildlife sanctuary (video)

    In the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, a team of researchers from the Department of National Parks had an unusual encounter with a wild tiger that observed them quietly during their field mission. The sanctuary spans across Uthai Thani and Tak provinces. On June 28, the researchers were engaged in a tiger tracking and data collection mission when a tiger…

  • Black beauty: Rare leopard spotted at Phetchaburi national park | Thaiger

    Black beauty: Rare leopard spotted at Phetchaburi national park

    Another rare black leopard has been spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand. The sighting, which took place on Wednesday, June 25 at 5.20pm, sparked excitement among nature enthusiasts and wildlife experts. This breathtaking encounter was captured at the 18-kilometre mark of the park, a popular spot for butterfly-watching, highlighting the park’s rich biodiversity. Park Chief Mongkol Chaiphakdi…

  • Phuket’s luxury real estate boom raises green space concerns | Thaiger

    Phuket’s luxury real estate boom raises green space concerns

    Phuket’s latest luxury real estate development, Utopia Urban Glam, has made waves as it positions itself as a key driver of the island’s economic growth. The seven-storey building, currently under construction in Rawai’s Saiyuan area, boasts 110 residential units and a range of high-end amenities, including seven swimming pools, a private cinema, a fitness centre, and a rooftop Sky Lounge. The…

  • Pattaya deputy mayor leads cleanup of sunken docking buoys | Thaiger

    Pattaya deputy mayor leads cleanup of sunken docking buoys

    In a move aimed at restoring order to Pattaya’s troubled boating sector, the deputy mayor has led a team to collect sunken buoys from a failed docking project, a cleanup effort long overdue since tropical storm Vamco wreaked havoc on the area 10 years ago. Yesterday, June 25, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City Manoch Nongyai and officials from the Pattaya…

  • Pattaya releases 100,000 shrimp and sea snails to boost marine life | Thaiger

    Pattaya releases 100,000 shrimp and sea snails to boost marine life

    Pattaya is taking significant steps to protect its coastal ecosystem with a major marine animal release event. Deputy Mayor Krissana Boonsawat led the initiative, which saw the release of 100,000 juvenile whiteleg shrimp and 1,000 spotted Babylon sea snails into the sea off Jomtien Beach. Organised in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, the Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre…

  • Pattaya Beach gets a major cleanup as locals unite for safer shore | Thaiger

    Pattaya Beach gets a major cleanup as locals unite for safer shore

    Pattaya Beach was alive with energy yesterday as over 500 enthusiastic participants, led by Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, gathered for a large-scale beach cleanup. The event, supported by city executives, municipal officials, local community networks, and tourism stakeholders, aimed to restore the iconic shoreline, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourists. The cleanup saw active involvement from Deputy…

  • Tiger comeback: Prey release sparks hope in Thai jungle | Thaiger

    Tiger comeback: Prey release sparks hope in Thai jungle

    In Thailand’s dense, steaming western forests, 20 sambar deer leap into freedom — and straight into the domain of one of Asia’s most elusive predators: the Indochinese tiger. This dramatic release in Khlong Lan National Park, Kamphaeng Phet, Central Thailand, is part of an ambitious government and WWF-backed effort to revive Thailand’s wild tiger population by restoring their natural prey…

  • Thailand drought relief cash halted amid graft claims | Thaiger

    Thailand drought relief cash halted amid graft claims

    A massive 51 billion baht drought relief fund has been frozen amid explosive claims of political meddling and potential budget abuse, sparking fears over delayed aid for struggling communities. Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong confirmed this week that the Budget Bureau has issued a formal notice halting the disbursement of funds earmarked under the 2025 fiscal mid-year budget for water…