PRACHIN BURI, March 9 (TNA) – The Transport Ministry officially opened a wildlife overpass on Highway 304 (Kabin Buri-Pak Thong Chai) to let wild animals migrate between Khao Yai and Thap Lan national parks.
Presiding over the opening ceremony, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the overpass was constructed on a section of the highway between the 194.485th and 194.990th kilometer markers. A tunnel was built on the highway section to serve traffic on the important highway that linked the Northeast and the East and its roof was covered with soil and trees to be the wildlife corridor, the minister said.
Khao Yai and Thap Lan national parks are parts of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex that was listed as a natural World Heritage Site in 2005. The World Heritage Committee earlier recommended wildlife corridors be built between both national parks separated by Highway 304 to ensure biodiversity and protect wildlife from highway traffic.
Anont Luangboriboon, director-general of the Highways Department, said wild animals were using the corridor above the highway tunnel as officials found animals’ footprints there.
Apart from the tunnel, the department built two overpasses, 570 meters and 340 meters long, on the same highway to create wildlife underpasses there, he said. (TNA)
