PETCHABURI — 25 October 2026, A rare sighting of two black leopards and three leopards in Kaeng Krachan National Park has drawn excitement among wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.
Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Mongkol Chaiphakdee said on Sunday morning that five young leopards were spotted along the road to Ban Krang at kilometre marker 3, near the Khao Sam Yot ranger station.
The animals, believed to be around two to three years old, comprised two black leopards and three normally coloured leopards. Officials said they may be siblings from the same parents, although scientific evidence would be needed to confirm their relationship.
The sighting occurred between about 09:00 and 10:00 on 25 October.
Freelance wildlife photographer Natnalee “Nong” Suraplanan, encountered the animals and managed to capture some of the sighting in photographs and video. Natnalee was previously among the final eight contestants on the second season of Thai singing competition The Star in 2004.
She photographed one female black leopard and one male leopard, while some of the other animals disappeared before she was able to photograph them. Information provided to the park indicated that two photographs and two video clips were recorded.
The sighting highlights Kaeng Krachan’s importance as a habitat for a wide range of wildlife and its value for biodiversity conservation and ecotourism. The Ban Krang route is particularly well known among visitors and wildlife photographers seeking to observe animals in their natural habitat under park regulations.
The location where the leopards were seen is about five kilometres from an area associated with a proposed dolomite mining project that has faced opposition.
The sighting has renewed attention on the importance of protecting forest habitats, although any assessment of the mining project’s potential ecological impact would require scientific data and a comprehensive study of the area.
Natnalee said she intended to provide all of her photographs and video footage to Kaeng Krachan National Park for public education and possible use in future wildlife behaviour and conservation studies.
Park officials also urged visitors to follow staff instructions, avoid approaching or disturbing wildlife, and refrain from publicly sharing precise locations that could affect the animals’ safety.
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