Thung Yai Naresuan West Clarifies Tourist Controversy: Permitted Entry, Improper Actions

MGR Online•General•22d ago

Reader Briefing

Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary clarifies a controversy involving tourists who were granted permission to enter for donation purposes but engaged in inappropriate activities.

•Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary confirmed that a group of tourists was granted permission to enter the area for natural studies and to make donations to a school.
•The tourists exhibited inappropriate behavior, including parking an off-road vehicle in a stream and flying a drone without permission.
•The sanctuary is gathering evidence to pursue legal action for these actions, which could impact the ecosystem of a World Heritage site.
•The sanctuary issued a call for all visitors to comply with regulations and official instructions to ensure eco-tourism is conducted appropriately.

Overview

•Between May 30 – 31, 2026, two groups of tourists numbering 10 people each, with 3 vehicles per group, were permitted to study nature on the Snaepong Forest Protection Unit – Koh Sadeng nature trail.
•During the same period, the Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary received a request for 12 people with 5 vehicles to enter the area to donate items and provide lunch to a school.
•The Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary stated that while the tourists received proper entry permission, their actions were inappropriate.
•The inappropriate actions included parking vehicles in a stream, which may affect the aquatic ecosystem and environment.
•The use of a drone without authorization from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation was deemed inappropriate, potentially impacting wildlife habitats.
•The Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary is currently collecting facts and evidence to consider legal proceedings.
•The sanctuary urged all tourists and users of the area to strictly follow all set laws, regulations, announcements, orders, methods, and conditions.
•Failure to comply with regulations could negatively affect the natural resources, wildlife, and environment of the World Heritage site.

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Key Quotes

Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary

"We request cooperation from all tourists and users of the area to strictly adhere to the laws, regulations, announcements, orders, methods, and conditions set by the agency."

ขอความร่วมมือจากนักท่องเที่ยวและผู้เข้าใช้ประโยชน์ในพื้นที่ทุกท่าน ให้ปฏิบัติตามกฎหมาย ระเบียบ ข้อบังคับ ประกาศ คำสั่ง วิธีการ และเงื่อนไขที่หน่วยงานกำหนด

Key Entities

Organization

Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary(เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าทุ่งใหญ่นเรศวรด้านตะวันตก)

The organization that issued a statement clarifying a controversy involving tourists within its protected area.

Ban Kong Monthong School, Ban Koh Sadeng Branch(โรงเรียนบ้านกองม่องทะ สาขาบ้านเกาะสะเดิ่ง)

The school that received donations from a group of tourists.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)

The government department whose regulations regarding drone usage were cited as being violated.

Place

World Heritage Forest(ป่ามรดกโลก)ℹ️

The designation of the Thung Yai Naresuan area, highlighting its ecological significance.