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.
-
Thailand launches first elephant birth control programme in Trat
Thailand has carried out its first wild elephant birth control programme, with the Department of National Parks vaccinating three female elephants in Trat province on January 25 as part of efforts to manage rising elephant populations. The historic operation took place in Bo Rai district, where veterinarians from the Wildlife Conservation Office, in collaboration with Chiang Mai University, carried out…
-
Wildlife thrives in Kaeng Krachan as panther and bear spotted
A black panther and an Asiatic black bear with its cub were spotted on Monday, January 19, strolling along a road inside Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi, highlighting the rich biodiversity of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The sighting occurred along the Ban Krang–Phanoen Thung route, a mountainous area frequented by nature enthusiasts. A tourist, Suwanna Mookachonpan, managed to capture…
-
Thailand’s PM2.5 levels soar, posing health risks in 38 provinces
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that 38 provinces in Thailand, primarily in the Northeast and Central Plains, experienced elevated levels of ultrafine dust on Sunday morning. At 8am, Gistda indicated that particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM2.5) ranged from 37.6 to 75.6 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) across these provinces. Meanwhile,…
-
Plankton takeover gives Cha-am beach a green makeover
Tourists visiting Cha-am Beach and Bo Yai Beach in Phetchaburi were met with an unusual sight yesterday, January 15, as the sea along the shoreline turned a dark green colour due to a natural plankton bloom. The phenomenon, stretching over 2.5 kilometres of coastline, was most noticeable along the southern stretch of Cha-am Beach and near Ban Bo Yai Beach…
-
Government urges caution as PM2.5 levels hit dangerous highs
Thailand‘s government has issued a warning today, January 15, over rising levels of PM2.5 air pollution expected between January 14 and 16, urging strict control of pollution sources and greater public caution, particularly in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Pairsawetthawana said the Air Pollution Solution Communication Centre under the Pollution Control Department (APSC) had reported a significant…
-
Longman’s beaked whale found in Thailand for first time
A rare deep-sea whale has been confirmed in Thai waters for the first time after a carcass washed ashore in Chanthaburi yesterday, January 13, prompting marine experts to investigate its exact species and cause of death. The whale was later identified as a Longman’s beaked whale, also known as Indopacetus pacificus, one of the least commonly observed cetaceans in the…
-
Rare red-headed krait spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park
A rare and highly venomous snake was spotted yesterday, January 13, in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park, after a park ranger photographed it during a routine patrol on Phanoen Thung Mountain. The snake has been identified as a red-headed krait, a highly venomous species known for its distinctive glossy black body, bright red head and tail, and raised triangular back.…
-
Colourful fiddler crabs amaze tourists at Trang mangrove site
Tourists visiting a mangrove eco-tourism site in Trang yesterday, January 7, were treated to a vivid natural sight, as swarms of colourful fiddler crabs emerged from the mudflats in large numbers. The crabs were spotted at Ban Rai Yong Star in Palian district, where visitors watched them scuttle through the mudflats beside the mangroves, feeding and interacting along the edge…
-
Search continues for injured elephant in Khao Yai park
Khao Yai officials are still searching for a wild elephant injured in a collision yesterday, January 4, with a closed-box van, as public concern grows over road safety in wildlife zones. The elephant, reported to be “Phlai Chom View”, also known as “Phlai Biang Yai Moosi”, was reportedly struck while crossing the road near the Mun River Headwater Research Station…
-
Cold air returns, Tak chills to 10°C, stronger monsoon ahead
Thailand Weather Update: Temperatures dip further as new cold wave arrives January 6 to 11 The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a fresh weather outlook as another wave of cold air sweeps over upper Thailand, causing temperatures to drop, especially in northern provinces. Meanwhile, strong monsoonal winds are expected to affect the South and coastal areas starting this weekend.…
-
Wild serows sighted in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park
Park officials at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan shared photographs on January 3 showing a pair of serows, a species rarely seen in the wild, appearing in two different locations within the park. According to Ekkarit Duangmala, head of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, one of the serows was seen at Khao Daeng cliff,…
-
Rare flat-headed cat spotted in Thailand after 29 years
Conservationists in Thailand have confirmed the return of the flat-headed cat, one of the world’s rarest wild felines, after a 29-year absence. On December 25, global wild cat conservation group Panthera and Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation announced that camera traps captured multiple images of flat-headed cats at Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand. The…
-
Baby red kangaroo makes first appearance at Khao Kheow Zoo
A baby red kangaroo has emerged from its mother’s pouch for the first time yesterday, December 23, marking a rare sight just days before the New Year at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri. According to the zoo’s director, Narongwit Chodchoi, the newborn, born in May, is the offspring of a five year old female named Tao Tao and…
-
Orangutans rescued in Thailand set to head home to Indonesia
Four orangutans rescued in Thailand are set to be flown back to Indonesia today, December 23, marking a rare cross-border wildlife repatriation effort between the two Southeast Asian nations. The four orangutans, two males and two females, were rescued in separate wildlife trafficking cases earlier this year. Three were intercepted in Chumphon province in January, and the fourth was recovered…
-
Series of Earthquakes Felt Near Thailand as Regional Seismic Activity Intensifies
Thailand’s Earthquake Monitoring Division has issued a cautionary update after a series of earthquakes were recorded in and around the country in the early hours of December 21, underscoring heightened seismic activity across the region. According to the Thailand Earthquake Monitoring Division, tremors were detected multiple times overnight and into the morning, with the strongest nearby activity occurring close enough…
-
Rare big cats return to spotlight in Thai national park
In a nod to Thailand’s biodiversity, Office of Conservation Area Management 12 has reintroduced footage of a pair of elusive wild cats, a leopard and a black panther, captured roaming together in the forested terrain of Khlong Lan National Park in Kamphaeng Phet. The footage was first recorded in June 2020 by camera traps set up by the World Wide…
-
BMA expands WFH plan to battle air pollution
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to increase participation in its work-from-home (WFH) programme to 300,000 people next year in an effort to reduce PM2.5 air pollution across the city. This target represents a major jump from the roughly 200,000 people who joined the scheme this year. The expansion aims to reduce traffic emissions and protect public health during the…
-
Myanmar rocked by 13 earthquakes in one week
A popular Thai weather monitoring Facebook page has issued a warning about increased seismic activity in Myanmar. Today, December 3, the page “Tee Lomfah Akat” reported that three earthquakes struck Myanmar overnight from December 2 into the early hours of December 3. The page reported the earthquake around the Sagaing Fault Line, where a powerful quake earlier this year caused…
-
Rare pink dragon millipede amazes tourists in Uthai Thani
Tourists flocked to Hup Pa Tat in Uthai Thani to witness the annual appearance of one of the world’s top three newly discovered species, the rare pink dragon millipede. Large crowds gathered on December 1 at Tham Prathun Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Lan Sak district’s Mueang subdistrict, as visitors explored the forest landscape, often compared to a real-life Jurassic Park.…
-
Bangkok’s PM2.5 smog hits crisis levels in several districts
Bangkok woke up to dangerously high levels of PM2.5 today, December 2, with air quality across all 50 districts hitting the red-zone threshold. Data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) at 6am revealed that smog covered every district in the capital. Gistda recorded the highest PM2.5 reading in Nong Khaem district at 102.5 microgrammes per cubic metre…
-
Thailand pushes sustainable gem industry with GIT standard programmes
The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand, or GIT, has launched a new national initiative to advance Thailand’s position as a global hub for sustainable gem and jewellery production. The programme, titled Thailand Towards a World Sustainable Gem and Jewellery Hub, aims to help SMEs meet international standards in sustainability, governance, and environmental responsibility as global trade rules continue to…
-
Arsenic alert in Mekong prompts urgent government action
The People’s Party (PP) has called on the government to address arsenic contamination in the Mekong River caused by foreign mining, urging immediate action. The spread is believed to be caused by foreign mining activities in China, Myanmar, and Laos. Chiang Mai MP and PP deputy spokesperson, Phattarapong Leelaphat, voiced concerns on Facebook, accusing the government of remaining silent despite…
-
Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years
A great hornbill was spotted in a Chiang Mai national park, marking the first confirmed sighting in over a decade and signalling improved forest health. Chiang Mai’s Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is celebrating a major ecological milestone after spotting a great hornbill, also known locally as nok kahang or nok gak, for the first time in over a…
-
Bangkok dust levels spike as orange alert hits 3 districts
Bangkok residents are being warned to take precautions as PM2.5 dust levels have reached health risk levels in several districts across the city. Today, November 12, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that while most areas in the capital recorded acceptable air quality, PM2.5 dust levels surged to orange-alert status in three districts, meaning the fine particulate matter is high…
-
Bangkok launches campaign to battle toxic dust threat
Health and city officials in Bangkok have launched a new campaign to educate the public on how to protect themselves as smog season approaches. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has launched a new campaign titled Knowing PM2.5 for Sustainable Protection to educate the public on how to protect themselves from harmful fine dust particles.…
-
Energy minister pushes ahead with hydrogen and nuclear strategy
Thailand’s Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon says he will pursue long-term clean energy projects, including hydrogen and nuclear development, despite the limited time under the current government’s term. Speaking yesterday, November 9, Auttapol said he aims to lay the groundwork for initiatives that may not be completed before the administration steps down. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to dissolve Parliament…
-
Bang Saen Beach turns black, vendors fear tourist drop
Seawater at a popular beach in eastern Thailand turned black, raising concerns among visitors and vendors about health risks and a drop in tourism. Seawater along Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri has taken on a strange black hue, believed to be caused by a plankton bloom triggered by recent storms and rainfall. While there’s no unpleasant odour or danger…
-
Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints
Officials inspected a recycling plant in Chon Buri after residents complained about foul odours, uncovering waste violations and environmental concerns. The inspection, carried out on November 5, was led by Ploylapas Singtothong, adviser to the industry minister, as part of the “Full Throttle” mobile inspection campaign. The facility, located in Bo Kwang Thong subdistrict, handles industrial waste processes including sorting,…
-
DHL powers up Thailand’s first solar-run logistics hub
Thailand has taken a major step toward green logistics as DHL opened its first fully solar-powered facility, aiming to boost sustainable trade in Southeast Asia. The new Bangna Sustainable Logistics Centre, launched by DHL Supply Chain Thailand, is the logistics giant’s first global facility powered entirely by on-site solar energy. Backed by a 1.39 billion baht investment, the site showcases…
-
Pattaya cracks down on sea lanterns for Loy Krathong Festival
Pattaya officials have urged locals and tourists to avoid floating lanterns (krathongs) in the sea during the Loy Krathong Festival to protect marine life and public safety. As the annual Loy Krathong Festival approaches tomorrow, November 5, the City of Pattaya, in cooperation with local administrative organisations in Bang Lamung district, is rolling out safety and environmental campaigns to ensure a more…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.