Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary () is a wildlife sanctuary in northern Thailand, located in the Phu Luang mountain area, in the south of Loei Province.Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary - Protected Planet The area around the mountain is part of the Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion.Luang Prabang montane rain forests
It covers an area of , covering area of the tambon Pla Ba and Tha Sala of Phu Ruea District, Phon Sung, Wang Yao and I Pum of Dan Sai, Nong Ngio and Saikhao of Wang Saphung, and Phu Ho of Phu Luang District.
History The wildlife reserve was established in 1974. In 1985 it was further enlarged by . The reserve is named after its highest mountain, which peaks at . The reserve covers the whole mountain plateau around the peak, which has an elevation of around . To west of the reserve the Loei River originates. "Phu Luang" means "large mountain" or the "mountain of the king", formed by an uplift of the Earth's crust and a slide of soft soil down to lower elevations.
Environment There are three seasons at Phu Luang. Summer runs from February to April with an average temperature of . During this season, flowers such as dendrobiums, white wild orchids, white and red rhododendrons bloom. The rainy season is from May to October, when the temperature is equal to or slightly higher than in summer. There will be tiny wild flowers in purplish pink scattered in the savanna. The temperature drops during the winter to in November – January. On some days, the temperature can drop to . During this season, kuam daeng (Acer calcaratum) will turn red and shed their leaves. Kradum ngoen (Eriocaulon henryanum Ruhle) and lady's slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum sukhakulii Schoser & Senghas) make up the undergrowth of the hill evergreen forest. On the east side of Phu Luang dinosaur footprints on the rock, aged more than 120 million years, were discovered.
There are various kinds of forests such as mixed deciduous forest, dry evergreen forest, and hill evergreen forest. The most prominent ones at Phu Luang are Pinus merkusii and Khasi pine forests, savanna on plains, mounds, and stone terraces. The wildlife sanctuary has organised the Phu Luang Nature Study Route, starting from Amphoe Phu Ruea at Khok Nok Kraba, passing Lan Suriyan, Pha Somdet, and the dinosaur footprints.
The reserve is home to an estimated 100 wild Asian elephants. The Elephants Rehabilitation Project within the wildlife reserve is under the patronage of Queen Sirikit."Elephant and Men in Phu Luang", Chaipattana Journal, August 2001.
The Phu Luang cliff frog (Huia aureola) was found within the reserve in 2006, notable for its ability to change color. Also more than 160 species of orchids grow in the area.
Location Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in overview PARO 8 (Khon Kaen) National park 1 Nam Phong 2 Phu Kradueng 3 Phu Pha Man 4 Phu Ruea 5 Phu Suan Sai 6 Phu Wiang Wildlife sanctuary 7 Phu Kho–Phu Kratae 8 Phu Luang Non-hunting area 9 Dun Lamphan10 Lam Pao11 Tham Pha Nam Thip Forest park12 Chi Long13 Harirak14 Kosamphi15 Namtok Ba Luang16 Namtok Huai Lao17 Pha Ngam18 Phu Bo Bit19 Phu Faek20 Phu Han–Phu Ra-Ngam21 Phu Pha Lom22 Phu Pha Wua23 Phu Phra24 Tham Saeng–Tham Phrommawat
References
External links Royal Gazette entries for Phu Luang: Issue 91, Part 216 (December 18 1974) Issue 102, Part 134 (September 26 1985)
Forestry department (Thai only)