Thailand

Thailand lies in the middle of mainland Southeast Asia. There is evidence of continuous human habitation from 20 000 years ago to the present day, with the earliest evidence of rice cultivation dating back to 2000 BC. Situated entirely within the tropics, the country encompasses varied ecosystems, ranging from the hilly forested areas of the northern frontier, the fertile rice fields of the central plains, the broad plateau of the northeast, and the rugged coastline of the narrow southern peninsula. Among Thailand's protected areas are 156 national parks, 58 wildlife sanctuaries, 67 non-hunting areas and 120 forest parks. Covering nearly 31 percent of the kingdom's territory. Thailand is a land of forests, shrubby grasslands and marshy wetlands dotted with lotuses and water lilies. Traditionally, the Thai people used water buffalo, oxen, horses and elephants to plow and plough the land, transport goods and people, and move heavy loads. However, by the 1980s, the draft animals had been replaced by machinery and, with the exception of remote areas of the country, the animals used for transport were replaced by motorcycles, trucks, cars and buses. Nowadays, the rhinos and tapirs that were once found in many areas of the country have almost completely disappeared, along with the wild elephant herds. Gibbons and some species of monkeys and birds have suffered a similar fate. While still common in the wild, snakes, including the King Cobra and many species of venomous water snakes, are now more commonly seen on snake farms. The same applies to crocodiles, although they still occur in the wild in the south.