Rare subspecies of Indochinese tigers, gaurs and a clouded leopard have been found in the forest of Sri Sawat, which is now largely a non-hunting zone, said park chief Prawut Prempree.
Mr Prawut revealed yesterday that more rare species of wild animals had been found after the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) gained permission from the army and the Treasury Department to conduct conservatory work in Sri Sawat district.
"The park's wildlife scouting cameras have captured more wild animals such as Indochinese tigers, gaurs and a clouded leopard," he said.
He said that the announcement of it being a non-hunting zone would not alter the status of the forest. The possessory rights of any party over the land will remain legitimate, however, hunting in the Sri Sawat forest will be punishable with a more serious penalty.
The forest first belonged to the Treasury Department and was placed under the care of the army, he added.
It takes up more than 219,000 rai, or approximately 11,660 hectares, covering tambons Dan Mae Chalap, Na Suan and Khao Chot in Kanchanaburi province.
The Sri Sawat non-hunting forest is surrounded by Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park on its eastern border, Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary on its southeastern border and Khuean Srinagarindra National Park in the West.
Apart from the non-hunting forest, Mr Prawut said that there are three more areas attached to the central Sri Sawat forest which would soon be announced as non-hunting zones in the district, as an attempt to conserve wildlife in larger areas of the aforementioned adjacent national parks.
Moreover, the announcement of larger non-hunting zones aims to preserve forests for wild animal migration from the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Uthai Thani and Tak.
Non-hunting zones in Sri Sawat will be protected by the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. It followed a resolution to prevent illegal hunting, forest invasions and wild plant collection, added Mr Prawut.