Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary

Infobox_protected_area | name = Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
iucn_category = IV


caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Thailand
nearest_city = Nakhon Phanom
lat_degrees = 18
lat_minutes = 10
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 103
long_minutes = 59
long_seconds =
long_direction = E
area = 186.5 km²
established = 1975
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Wildlife Conservation Division

Phu Wua ( _th. ภูวัว) is a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, located in the east of Nong Khai Province. It covers an area of 186.5 km² of the districts Seka and Bung Khla.

The wildlife preserve covers forested hills along the Mekong river, ranging between 160 and 448 m above sea level. The highest hill is Phu Wua Lang Tham Sung. "Shorea obtusa" is the most common tree. The dry and wet virgin forests are intersected with bamboo forests and grasslands. Wildlife of the sanctuary includes elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, pheasants, monkeys and gibbons.

The area was first surveyed in 1964, however the survey had to be interrupted due to the growing communist insurgency in the area. It took till 1974 that the Forestry Department could finish the survey and report the results to the government. On May 2 1975 it was established as a wildlife sanctuary by royal degree.

ources

* [http://www.dnp.go.th/p_wildlife/Sanctuarywave/Phuwua.pdf Royal gazette No. 92 chapter 87] (Thai only)

External links

* [http://www.openmindprojects.org/opm_info/Phu_Wua_leaflet_for_backpackers.pdf Visitors Info sheet]