A Critically Endangered Stronghold
Deep within the rugged Tenasserim Hills of western Thailand lies the Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), a vast expanse of protected land covering over 18,700 square kilometers. This forest is one of the last two major strongholds for the Indochinese leopard, Panthera pardus delacouri. This subspecies is now classified as Critically Endangered, having vanished from more than 95% of its historical range. Populations have been wiped out in Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam, with remnant groups barely surviving in Cambodia and southern China. The primary driver of this collapse is widespread poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, compounded by prey depletion and habitat destruction.
The leopards of the Western Forest Complex represent an important reservoir of genetic diversity. As other populations across Southeast Asia became isolated and eventually disappeared, the leopards in this mountainous refuge maintained a unique genetic lineage. This makes the Thai population essential for the long-term survival of the subspecies. The forest complex, which includes 17 contiguous protected areas like the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), provides enough space and resources to support a viable population. This genetic distinction shows the area's importance as a natural laboratory for conservation and evolution.