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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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…
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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,…
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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…
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Elusive crested jayshrike spotted on Kaeng Krachan forest trail
A rare crested jayshrike made a surprise appearance yesterday, January 14, on a forest trail in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park, stunning birdwatchers and park officials. Mongkol Chaiphakdi, chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, said the elusive bird was seen near the 18-kilometre forest trail known as Ban Chang Yieb, which leads up to Panoenthung mountain. The encounter was captured…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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Rare Asiatic golden cat spotted in Khao Yai National Park
A rare Asiatic golden cat has been spotted in the forests of Khao Yai National Park, officials revealed today, January 6. The animal was captured on a wildlife camera, offering encouraging signs for the health of Thailand’s world heritage forest. The footage shows the elusive feline, known scientifically as Catopuma temminckii, walking past a camera installed in the park. The…
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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.…
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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,…
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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…
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Clean energy: Why it matters more than ever, and why this initiative is now live again
Clean energy has moved from being an ambitious idea to becoming one of the most important global priorities of our time. As climate challenges intensify and traditional energy systems strain under demand, the need for renewable, efficient, and responsible energy solutions has never been clearer. Communities, governments, innovators, and everyday citizens are now part of a growing movement to rethink…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand releases four leopard sharks in first rewilding effort
Conservationists released four Indo-Pacific leopard sharks off Koh Maiton on Monday, December 8, in Thailand’s first endangered shark rewilding project. The release took place near Maiton Resort, around nine kilometres from Cape Panwa, and aquarists at Aquaria Phuket bred the sharks, named Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty, who are all nearly two years old. Each shark, measuring between 100 and…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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Air quality reaches unsafe status as PM2.5 levels spike
Bangkok and 47 other provinces have reported hazardous air quality status as ultrafine particulate matter (PM2.5) has risen in the past 24 hours, according to researchers. The government considers the PM2.5 level of 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) to be the safe limit. As of 3pm yesterday, November 30, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that levels…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Amnuay Silpa School celebrates its 100th anniversary with sea turtle conservation and mangrove reforestation in Sattahip
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Amnuay Silpa School (ANS), in collaboration with the Amnuay Silpa Alumni Association, organised the Sea Turtle Conservation and Mangrove Reforestation activity on Saturday, November 8, in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. The initiative reflected the school’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. The event brought together parents, students, teachers, and alumni who actively…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night
City Hall workers in Bangkok collected over 390,000 krathong floats after the Loy Krathong Festival, marking a notable drop from the previous year’s total. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials collected a total of 391,027 krathong floats from canals, rivers and lakes across the capital following last night’s (November 5) Loy Krathong festival, a 24% drop compared to the same event…
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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…
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Bangkok ramps up safety checks ahead of Loy Krathong Festival
Bangkok’s governor has ordered safety checks at piers across the city ahead of Loy Krathong, urging residents to use eco-friendly floats for the festival. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered safety inspections at all piers and floating platforms across the capital ahead of this year’s Loy Krathong Festival on November 5. The move is aimed at ensuring public safety and…
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