‘Elusive’ mammal spotted on top of steep cliff in Thailand. See the rare sight
An “elusive” mammal climbed along a steep cliff in Thailand and paused briefly near some trees. From down below, wildlife officials photographed the shaggy animal’s rare appearance.
Keen-eyed wildlife patrols spotted the figure from a distance while surveying Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. They zoomed in on the animal with a camera and identified it as a serow, Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said in a Dec. 11 news release.
Photos show the dark brown serow perched precariously atop a cliff. Its silhouette is clearly visible against the light blue sky.
Serows are a group of goat-like mammals found across Asia, according to Britannica. They have “elusive habits” and are “well adapted to climbing” steep peaks. Several species of serow are considered at-risk.
Officials did not say which species of serow they saw at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, but the park’s website says it is home to Indochinese serows.
In the zoomed-in view, the serow looks shaggy with a few lighter patches of hair on its head, ears and rear. The department also posted photos of the serow on Facebook.
Officials described the rare sighting as encouraging and a sign the park’s conservation efforts are working.
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is a coastal park in central Thailand, a roughly 160-mile drive southwest from Bangkok and near the border with Myanmar.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release and Facebook post from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 1:27 PM with the headline "‘Elusive’ mammal spotted on top of steep cliff in Thailand. See the rare sight."
