The head of Kaeng Krachan National Park believes the female black panther, which previously displayed affection in front of tourists, is now pregnant after tourists captured photos of her. This reflects the richness of the ecosystem in the World Heritage forest.
On 29 May 2016, Mr. Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, revealed images showing the forest's abundance after receiving a report from Mr. Pongsak Kanthuk, a park officer at Ban Krang. A tourist named Mr. Jirayu Ekkul encountered and photographed a female black panther emerging from the forest to walk on the road ascending Phanoen Thung Mountain. The panther then rested for over an hour, thrilling tourists lucky enough to witness this rare sight.
Upon reviewing the photos, it was observed that the female black panther appears to be pregnant. It is believed to be the same individual photographed by tourists mating with another black panther while driving near kilometers 21–22 on the road to Phanoen Thung within Kaeng Krachan National Park on 9 May 2016.
Mr. Mongkol emphasized that the sighting of the black panther, a protected wild animal, is a positive sign for conservation efforts and reaffirms that the Kaeng Krachan forest remains home to many wildlife species. This reflects the ecosystem's richness in the World Heritage forest. He urged all tourists to maintain distance and avoid disturbing wildlife if encountered, to keep vehicles away from animals, avoid loud noises, and not feed the animals, as feeding may cause them to become accustomed to humans and lead to unpredictable behavior.