Good news: discovery of the "Hipposideros rotalis" bat for the first time in Thailand, reaffirming the richness of Hin Sam Wan Forest
On 27 Jul 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that Mr. Suchat Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, revealed that the government prioritizes continuous conservation and restoration of natural resources to maintain forest richness and biodiversity. This effort has yielded concrete results with the first discovery of the Hipposideros rotalis bat, or Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat, in Thailand within Hin Sam Wan Recreational Forest, Bueng Kan Province.
Mr. Suchat said he received a report from Mr. Nikorn Sirorojananon, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department, that this discovery was made by the Forest Research and Development Office under the Royal Forest Department, as part of a vertebrate wildlife diversity study in Hin Sam Wan Recreational Forest. Supported by the Office of the Science Promotion, Research and Innovation Policy (SPRI), researchers surveyed the area since early 2025 and found this bat species for the first time in Thailand, although it had previously been recorded only in Laos.
This discovery reflects the ecological abundance of Hin Sam Wan Recreational Forest and provides valuable scientific data for studying the country’s biodiversity. Although this bat species is classified as of least concern regarding extinction risk, it confirms that Thailand’s forests still hold potential for discovering scientifically important species in the future.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment emphasizes the importance of surveying and conserving new wildlife and plant species as indicators of the country’s natural resource health. The ministry will continue to manage forests carefully while supporting research to preserve biodiversity and pass on abundant natural resources to future generations.
The Royal Forest Department will strengthen protection measures in Hin Sam Wan Recreational Forest and continue supporting biodiversity research to generate new knowledge and enhance the effectiveness of national natural resource conservation.