Predator duo make close-up appearance on trail camera in Thailand park. See them
In the dense forests of Thailand, spotting an apex predator is a rare sight.
Seeing two is even more special.
On July 23, trail cameras installed in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary were pointed at the entrance of the Khao Nang Ram Wildlife Research Station when something triggered the camera, according to an Aug. 27 Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
It was just before midnight, and as the video started to record, a big, striped butt was positioned toward the lens.
The haunches were attached to the rest of a large black and orange body, lying calmly in the grass — a tiger, the video shows.
This tiger wasn’t alone. Ahead of the animal in the background of the video, another tiger is seen walking around and exploring its surroundings, including going up toward the station sign.
The tiger backtracks before continuing down a path and into the darkness, the video shows.
Wildlife officials said the sighting is rare not only because tigers are elusive, but also because the video shows a relatively intimate moment, according to the post.
The animals are not quickly walking through the area or hiding along the edge of the trees. They are out in the open exploring or settling down for a rest.
Tigers are part of what wildlife officials call the “Big 7,” a group of large animals used to help judge the health and ecological richness of the area, according to the post.
Seeing these major players in the ecosystem out and about shows the protected land is doing its job as a home for the endangered animals, wildlife officials said. The research station allows scientists and officials to observe the tigers up close.
The wild tiger populations in Thailand have been increasing, according to the WWF, with as many as 223 living in the country as of July 2024.
Tigers are listed as an endangered species throughout southeast Asia, with populations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Tibet, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia and Thailand, according to the IUCN Red List.
Fewer than 4,000 are estimated to still live in the wild, and in most regions their numbers are decreasing.
Camera traps set by researchers and park officials alike throughout Thailand have captured the species making its comeback.
In February, a mother tiger appeared with three cubs, McClatchy News previously reported. In April, a female tiger that had not been seen since 2022 reappeared, bringing with her two babies.
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is in western Thailand, near the border with Myanmar.
Chat GPT, an AI chatbot, was used to translate the Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Predator duo make close-up appearance on trail camera in Thailand park. See them."
