HISTORY

Khao Sok is located in an area shaped by the same geological changes that led to the formation of the Himalayas. The landscape in Khao Sok consists of towering limestone mountains above the lake, with most of the land standing about 200 meters above sea level. The average height of the mountains is 400 meters, with the highest peak reaching up to 960 meters.

Around 66 million years ago, when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian tectonic plate, the landscape of Khao Sok was uplifted, leading to the accumulation of granite mixed with limestone, as well as the production of tin and tungsten. Although the ice age had little impact on Khao Sok, the melting of ice increased water in the area, allowing vegetation to flourish abundantly. As a result, the rainforest in Khao Sok is older than the forests in Central America and the Amazon, which were once covered by ice.

Around 50,000 to 37,000 years ago…

At that time, the mountains of Khao Sok were part of the same ridge as Borneo. Evidence shows that humans have inhabited Borneo since that era, and it is believed that the same group of humans may have also lived in Khao Sok, as the landscape with caves, fruits, plants, and wildlife is similar to that of Borneo. In the year 1800…

In 1944, a severe epidemic caused a large number of people in Khao Sok to die. Only a few survivors moved away, and the old village was named “Ban Sab,” which translates to “Village of Death.” The dense rainforest in the area had a brief period of rest.

In 1961, a road was constructed to connect Surat Thani and Phang Nga provinces, leading to settlements along the road and deforestation for building homes and cultivating crops. The area, rich in tin and timber resources, saw land being sold for farming, resulting in significant forest destruction.
Although by 1971 the old river delta system in Khao Sok remained mostly intact, the area began to be surveyed, and people started to recognize the abundance of plant species, wildlife, and landscapes. As a result, they decided to stop logging and focus on forest preservation. However, it took several years for the implementation of these measures.

Between 1976 and 1980, communist student groups were unable to bring about the changes they sought within the community and were viewed as outlaws. As a result, they hid in the deep forests to avoid capture. These conflicts led to the disappearance of some of the population in Khao Sok and gave the rainforest an opportunity to recover.

In 1980, Khao Sok National Park was declared the 22nd national park of Thailand, covering an area of 645 square kilometers. However, in the same year, the boundaries of the park were altered to make way for the construction of the Ratchaprapha Dam, which continues to generate electricity for southern Thailand. Wildlife rescue operations were conducted before the flooding, with over 1,300 animals being captured and relocated. Unfortunately, most of them died during the relocation process, marking a significant loss for wildlife. Later, in 2001, the park’s area was expanded from 645 square kilometers to 739 square kilometers.