Khun Chae

Khun Chae National Park lies in Wiang Pa Pao District, Chiang Rai Province, in the mountains of northern Thailand. It covers about 270 km² and was established in 1995^[1].

Mammals recorded here include Asiatic black bear, serow, barking deer, hog badger, slow loris, white-handed gibbon, leopard cat and wild boar, and birds include scarlet minivet, red junglefowl, brown fish owl, crested serpent eagle and blue-throated barbet. King cobra is among the reptiles^[1].

Vegetation changes with altitude and includes bamboo, deciduous dipterocarp forest, pine, rainforest and evergreen forest^[1]. A giant ficus tree near park headquarters had spread over more than 1,600 m² by 2006^[1].

The terrain is rugged, with high mountains cut by waterfalls^[1]. The park adjoins Chae Son, Mae Takhrai and Si Lanna national parks.

Northern Thailand has hot, rainy and cool seasons, and the high ground of the park is cooler than the lowlands.

The park lies in Wiang Pa Pao District of Chiang Rai Province, in the mountains of northern Thailand.

Khun Chae was declared a national park in 1995 and is managed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation as an IUCN Category II area^[1].

Khun Chae Waterfall has six levels, and Mae Tho Waterfall has seven levels and drops about 40 m. Doi Mot offers views toward Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and the giant ficus near park headquarters is a short stop^[1].

The park is about 100 km northeast of Chiang Mai and reached from the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai road through Wiang Pa Pao, which is the nearest town^[1]. Park headquarters stands near the giant ficus tree.

Khun Chae protects upland forest and watershed in a block of connected protected areas with Chae Son, Mae Takhrai and Si Lanna national parks^[1].