Area near Emerald Pool closed
People have been banned from entering the ‘Sa Nam Pud’ warm water stream area, where the Unseen Thailand attraction Emerald Pool in Krabi’s Khlong Thom district originates, until October.
The site has been closed for this period by the Khao Pra – Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve Taew Laew Tong Dam or Gurney’s Pitta, one of the world’s rarest birds.|As of 2010, there were 16 Gurney’s Pitta in the forest.
Sanctuary head Wutthipong Chusangrat said the upstream part of Emerald Pool and trekking path must be closed as it was habitat of Gurney’s Pitta, whose mating season and nesting falls during this period. In mid-April, only one female bird was spotted for the first time in five years. He said the closure wouldn’t affect tourism, as the Emerald Pool would be open as usual. He urged tour companies to explain to clients as some tourists still tried to enter the area.
