Thailand Discovers Rare Bat Species for First Time
Researchers in Thailand have discovered the Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat for the first time in the country within Sam Roi Yot forest in Bueng Kan Province, marking a significant finding in ongoing biodiversity surveys.
Thailand has discovered the Hipposideros rotalis (Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat) for the first time in the country, highlighting the ecological abundance of the Sam Roi Yot forest. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin stated that the government emphasizes continuous conservation and restoration of natural resources to preserve forest richness and national biodiversity. This discovery, made within Sam Roi Yot recreational forest in Bueng Kan Province, demonstrates the tangible results of these efforts.
According to Suchat, the discovery resulted from work by the Forest Research and Development Office under a vertebrate wildlife biodiversity study project in the Sam Roi Yot area, supported by the National Science, Research and Innovation Committee. Research teams surveyed the area from early 2025 and found this bat species in Thailand for the first time, though it was previously reported only in Laos.
The minister stated that this discovery reflects the ecological richness of the Sam Roi Yot forest ecosystem and provides valuable scientific information for studying national biodiversity. Although the species is classified as low-risk for extinction, it confirms that Thailand's forests retain significant potential for discovering species of scientific importance in the future.
"The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment prioritizes surveying and conserving new wildlife and plant species because they reflect the completeness of our nation's natural resources," Suchat said. "We will continue forest management alongside supporting research to maintain biodiversity and pass on abundant natural resources to the next generation."
The Forestry Department will strengthen conservation of the Sam Roi Yot forest area and continue supporting biodiversity research to create new knowledge and improve natural resource protection for the country.
