18 Wild Animals in Thailand [Wildlife in Thailand]

Learn All About Thai Animals

Ready to learn all about Thai animals?

I’ve always been fascinated by animals, and by how they can be so different from one country to another. In this guide, we’ll focus on the many animals Thailand has on the land, in the sky, and underwater.

I’ve split the guide into 4 categories:

• Native animals from Thailand
• Endangered animals of Thailand
• What is the national animal of Thailand?
• How many animals native to Thailand?

Let’s dive in right away with our first category!

Native Animals from Thailand

Thailand is an Asian country located in the southeastern part of the continent, east of the Andaman Sea. It has experienced multiple military coups and dictatorships over the course of its history, has been a constitutional monarchy since 2019, has the second-largest economy in southeastern Asia, and used to be known as Siam. It is bordered by Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia, and its capital and largest city is Bangkok, which counts more than 8,305,000 inhabitants (but more than 14,626,000 if you include the metropolitan area).

An interesting part of the country that I wanted to tackle is its wildlife. In light of that, I have listed the best of it, and I hope you will love learning what animals live in Thailand.

Here’s the Thailand animals list.

1. Indian elephant

• Name: Indian elephant
• Scientific name: Elephas maximus indicus
• Conservation status: Endangered

The Indian elephant is one of three subspecies of the Asian elephant. It is native to mainland Asia, and has been considered endangered since 1986, primarily due to habitat fragmentation and loss: since the 1930s, the wild population of this subpopulation has declined by more than 50 percent!

There are about 2,500 to 3,200 Indian elephants in Thailand, mainly in the mountains near the border with Myanmar. It is the national animal of Thailand and has played a critical role in the country’s traditions and cultures for centuries.

2. Asian black bear

• Name: Asian black bear
• Scientific name: Ursus thibetanus
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The Asian black bear, also known as the white-chested bear, the Asiatic black bear, or the moon bear, is a medium-sized species of bear native to Asia. It is one of the most arboreal bears in the world and is listed as vulnerable to extinction because of habitat loss and poaching for its body parts, used in traditional Asian medicine.

While this bear is usually active by day, it becomes nocturnal near human areas.

3. Indochinese leopard

• Name: Indochinese leopard
• Scientific name: Panthera pardus delacouri
• Conservation status: Critically endangered

The Indochinese leopard is a leopard subspecies native to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. It is on the brink of extinction because of poaching for the illegal wildlife trade and deforestation.

There are a maximum of 2,500 mature Indochinese leopards in the world, but only up to 1,000 breeding adults, and their range has declined by more than 90 percent over time. In Thailand, this leopard can be found in the Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok and Keang Krachan-Kui Buri protected areas, as well as in the Western Forest Complex.

4. Dhole

• Name: Dhole
• Scientific name: Cuon alpinus
• Conservation status: Endangered

The dhole, also known as the Asiatic wild dog, the whistling dog, the mountain wolf, or the red dog, is a species of wild canid native to central, southern, eastern, and southeastern Asia. It is highly social, and lives in large clans of up to 40 individuals, without any strict hierarchy. Opposite to other canids, it does not use its urine to mark its territory.

In Thailand, the range of the dhole is highly fragmented, and clans rarely exceed 3 members.

5. Bryde’s whale

Jason Thompson / CC BY

• Name: Bryde’s whale
• Scientific name: Balaenoptera brydei
• Conservation status: Least concern

Bryde’s whale, also known as Eden’s whale or the Sittang, is a medium-sized species of rorqual native to the subtropical and tropical oceans of the world; it can sometimes be spotted in the Gulf of Thailand. There, some tourists often harass whales with their jet skis.

This whale belongs to the same group as humpback whales and blue whales. It has no teeth, but instead has baleen plates, and either lives alone or in pairs, but some groups of 20 individuals are known.

6. Leopard cat

Tambako The Jaguar / CC BY-ND

• Name: Leopard cat
• Scientific name: Prionailurus bengalensis
• Conservation status: Least concern

The leopard cat is a small species of wild cat native to mainland southern, southeastern, and eastern Asia. It is considered of least concern thanks to its wide distribution but is still threatened by hunting and habitat loss. It is an obligate carnivore, which feeds on small mammals, amphibians, lizards, insects, and birds.

The leopard cat is poached for its fur in Thailand and China, and offered to international buyers, although completely protected in many countries of its range.

7. Indochinese tiger

• Name: Indochinese tiger
• Scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris
• Conservation status: Critically endangered

The Indochinese tiger is a subpopulation of the mainland Asian tiger native to Southeast Asia. It can only be found in Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, and there are about 342 individuals left, 200 to 250 of which live in Thailand.

Similarly to the leopard cat, the Indochinese tiger is heavily poached in Thailand, and its bones, skin, and other body parts are exported to other countries such as South Korea.

8. Indochinese jackal

• Name: Indochinese jackal
• Scientific name: Canis aureus cruesemanni
• Conservation status: Least concern

The Indochinese jackal, also known as the Southeast Asian golden jackal or the Siamese jackal, is a subspecies of the golden jackal native to Thailand. It inhabits the mountainous areas of the country, usually near farms and residential forests, and primarily feeds on birds, frogs, reptiles, and fruits.

This canid is active both during the day and at night and is a solitary creature. Although dholes are a major source of mortality for the Indochinese jackal, it does not have many natural predators.

9. Lar gibbon

• Name: Lar gibbon
• Scientific name: Hylobates lar
• Conservation status: Endangered

The lar gibbon, also known as the white-handed gibbon, is a species of gibbon native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the most well-known gibbons in the world and is often kept in captivity.

This primate has the largest north-south range of any gibbons, being found in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, and Malaysia. There are probably 15,000 to 20,000 individuals in Thailand alone, and they are threatened by habitat loss, capture for the illegal wildlife trade, and logging.

10. Malayan tapir

• Name: Malayan tapir
• Scientific name: Tapirus indicus
• Conservation status: Endangered

The Malayan tapir, also known as the Asiatic tapir, the Asian tapir, or the Indian tapir, is the only species of tapir native to Southeast Asia: it can be found from Sumatra to the Malay Peninsula, and there are only 2,500 mature individuals left in the wild, which is why it is listed as endangered.

This tapir lives in the tropical lowland rainforests of Thailand and is primarily solitary. Major parts of its habitats have been converted to oil palm plantations in the country, and 142 Malayan tapirs were displayed between 2006 and 2010 because of that.

11. White-banded wolf snake

• Name: White-banded wolf snake
• Scientific name: Lycodon septentrionalis
• Conservation status: Data deficient

The white-banded wolf snake, also known as the Northern large-toothed snake, is a species of snake native to Asia. It has small eyes and, as its name suggests, white stripes all over its body. Its belly is whitish, and it can grow to a length of up to 90 cm / 3 ft, including a tail of about 20 cm / 8 in.

This snake can be found all across Thailand.

12. King cobra

Michael Allen Smith / CC BY-SA

• Name: King cobra
• Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The king cobra is a venomous species of snake endemic to the jungles of southern and southeastern Asia. It is a major symbol in India, being the national reptile of the country, and has played an important role in Indian mythology, snake charming, and traditions. It displays its neck flap as a threat and can strike rapidly.

The largest known king cobra was captured in Thailand, and it measured 5.59 m / 18 ft 4 in long!

13. Siamese crocodile

• Name: Siamese crocodile
• Scientific name: Crocodylus siamensis
• Conservation status: Critically endangered

The Siamese crocodile, also known as the soft-belly, the Singapore small-grain, or the Siamese freshwater crocodile, is a medium-sized species of crocodile native to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, East Malaysia, and Brunei. It is already extirpated from a lot of regions within its range and is on the brink of extinction.

The wild Thai population of the Siamese crocodile is extremely small, possibly as few as 2 individuals, but it is present in captivity.

14. Reticulated python

• Name: Reticulated python
• Scientific name: Malayopython reticulatus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The reticulated python is a species of python native to southern and southeastern Asia. It is the longest snake in the world and is often seen in captivity. Thanks to its large numbers and wide distribution, it is listed as least concern.

Believe it or not, the reticulated python is an excellent swimmer, although not a sea snake, and has been recorded far out at sea. Several adult humans have been killed (and sometimes eaten) by reticulated pythons.

15. Gaur

• Name: Gaur
• Scientific name: Bos gaurus
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The gaur, also known as the Indian bison, is a species of bovine native to southern and southeastern Asia. It is the largest bovid and wild cattle in the world, and can reach a weight of up to 1,500 kg / 3,300 lb!

Although the gaur used to be found throughout Thailand, fewer than 1,000 individuals remain since the 1990s. In the Dong Phayayen – Khao Yai Forest Complex, they were recorded at a very low density of about 150 individuals.

16. Irrawaddy dolphin

Prachatai / CC BY-NC-ND

• Name: Irrawaddy dolphin
• Scientific name: Orcaella brevirostris
• Conservation status: Endangered

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a species of oceanic dolphin native to southeastern Asia and the Bay of Bengal. It lives in scattered, small populations and stays near the coastline and estuaries.

The largest known Irrawaddy dolphin comes from Thailand and has a length of 2.75 m / 9 ft. Historically, this dolphin has suffered from hunting for its oil and blast fishing in the country. Now, it is strictly protected and has the highest level of animal protection in Thailand.

17. Sunda pangolin

budak / CC BY-NC-ND

• Name: Sunda pangolin
• Scientific name: Manis javanica
• Conservation status: Critically endangered

The Sunda pangolin, also known as the Javan pangolin or the Malayan pangolin, is a species of pangolin native to southeastern Asia. It inhabits the forested habitats and plantations of Thailand and spends a significant portion of its life in trees.

This animal is protected almost everywhere within its range but is heavily exploited and poached, just like other pangolins. Because of this, it is on the verge of extinction.

18. Saltwater crocodile

• Name: Saltwater crocodile
• Scientific name: Crocodylus porosus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The saltwater crocodile, also known as the sea crocodile, the estuarine crocodile, the marine crocodile, or the Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest species of reptile and crocodilian in the world, exceeding 6.3 m / 21 ft in length and 1,300 kg / 2,900 lb in weight!

It is an extremely dangerous apex predator that has killed multitudes of humans over the centuries. Due to its incredible size and strength, the saltwater crocodile can kill anything within its range… and does not hesitate to do so!

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So there you have them, these were my 18 native Thailand animals. I hope you enjoyed this list and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about Thailand wildlife, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about:

Endangered Animals of Thailand

This is definitely the saddest part of the list, but it is essential to raise awareness. Because of this, let’s go through the list of endangered animals in Thailand.

Here are the animals in danger of extinction in Thailand.

Extinct in the wild

• Siamese flat-barbelled catfish
• Schomburgk’s deer

Critically endangered

• Sunda pangolin
• Helmeted hornbill
• Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle
• Javan rhinoceros
• Giant pangasius
• and 60 more…

Endangered

• Southeast Asian box turtle
• Black marsh turtle
• Otter civet
• Malay tapir
• Masked finfoot
• and 120 more…

To see the full list of endangered species in Thailand, head over to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

What is the National Animal of Thailand?

The national animal of Thailand is the Thai elephant.

Thailand is known around the world for the importance of the elephant in its culture. Nowadays often used as a tourist attraction, it is a very intelligent animal, revered across the centuries by Thai people.

The Thai elephant has always been an important part of royal parades and was used for war and logging, but really became the national animal thanks to the story of Budda: it is said that Buddha’s mother dreamed of a white elephant giving her a lotus flower on the eve of Buddha’s birth.

How Many Animals Native to Thailand?

What is the diversity of native animals in Thailand?

Let’s look at the total number of species of Chordata (mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles).

Total number of animal species in Thailand: 4,125 (15,319 in total in South and Southeast Asia)

More About Animals in the World!

Loved these Thailand animal facts? Want to see what animals live in other countries?

Then check out these posts:

• Wild Animals in Laos
• Wild Animals in Cambodia
• Wild Animals in Vietnam
• Wild Animals in Myanmar

Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

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