Thailand Discovers Rare Laotian Bat Species for First Time
Researchers have discovered the Hipposideros rotalis (Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat) in Thailand for the first time, found at Sam Wua Lin Limestone Forest Park in Bueng Kan Province during a biodiversity survey.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced that the government prioritizes continuous conservation and restoration of natural resources to maintain forest abundance and the country's biodiversity. This commitment has yielded concrete results with the discovery of the Hipposideros rotalis (Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat) in Thailand for the first time, found within Sam Wua Lin Limestone Forest Park in Bueng Kan Province.
Suchat reported that the Forest Department's Research and Development Office made the discovery through a vertebrate biodiversity survey project supported by the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Office. Researchers began surveying the area in early 2025 and identified this bat species in Thailand for the first time, despite it being previously reported only in Laos. The minister stated that this finding reflects the ecosystem's richness in the forest park and provides valuable scientific data for studying the country's biodiversity. Although the species is classified as low-risk for extinction, it confirms that Thailand's forests retain potential for discovering academically important species in the future.
"The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry prioritizes surveying and conserving new wildlife and plant species as they reflect the completeness of our natural resources. We will continue managing our forests while supporting research to preserve biodiversity and pass on abundant natural resources to the next generation," Suchat said. The Forest Department will strengthen protection of Sam Wua Lin Limestone Forest Park and continue supporting biodiversity research to create new knowledge and enhance the country's natural resource conservation efforts.
