View source for Sirinat National Park

{{Short description|National park in Phuket Province, Thailand}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = Sirinat National Park
| alt_name = อุทยานแห่งชาติสิรินาถ
| iucn_category = II
| image = Nai Yang Beach, Phuket (4448621322).jpg
| image_caption = Hat Nai Yang
| map = Thailand
| map_caption = Park location in Thailand
| map_width = 
| relief = 1
| location = [[Phuket Province]], [[Thailand]]
| nearest_city = [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]]
| coordinates = {{coord|8|5|17|N|98|17|46|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2 = 90
| established = July 1981
| visitation_num = 51,200
| visitation_year = 2019
| governing_body = [[Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation]]
}}
'''Sirinat National Park''' ({{langx|th|อุทยานแห่งชาติสิรินาถ}}) is a [[List of national parks of Thailand|national park]] in [[Phuket Province]], [[Thailand]]. This park, with sections on land and sea, is in the northwest of the island of Phuket.

==Geography==
Sirinat National Park is in [[Amphoe Thalang|Thalang]] District, about {{convert|30|km}} north of [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]] town on the coastal section surrounding [[Phuket International Airport]].

The park's total area is 56,250 rai ~ {{convert|90|km2}},<ref name="AREA NP">{{cite web |url=https://catalog.dnp.go.th/dataset/areaofnp/resource/3b372140-f2bf-4811-8819-bb8a8b1a100a |title=ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง |date=December 2020 |department=Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |language=Thai | trans-title=National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes |access-date=1 November 2022 |quote=, no 32}}</ref> with {{convert|68|km2}} of marine area and {{convert|22|km2}} land-based.<ref name=DNP>{{cite web | title = Sirinat National Park | url = http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=90&lg=2 | publisher= Department of National Parks (Thailand) | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130508192208/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=90&lg=2 | archivedate = 8 May 2013}}</ref> The park includes four main beaches: Hat Nai Thon, Hat Nai Yang, Hat Mai Khao, and Hat Sai Kaeo. Hat Mai Khao is Phuket's longest beach.<ref name=DNP/><ref name=TAT>{{cite web | title = Sirinat National Park | url = https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Sirinat-National-Park--679 | publisher= Tourism Authority of Thailand | accessdate = 23 June 2017}}</ref>

==History==
The park was originally known as Nai Yang National Park and became Thailand's 32nd national park on 13 July 1981. It was renamed Sirinat National Park in 1992.<ref name=DNP/>

A 2014 ''Bangkok Post'' [[editorial]] said that, "The latest questionable development in the sad saga of Sirinat National Park in Phuket province raises serious and vexing issues. Among the most pertinent is the old paradox of "Who will watch the watchers?" The [[Royal Thai Navy]] has moved into the precious park on the pretext of providing security. But the threats to this little jewel of national land are not physical, and heavily armed military men provide no solution at all".<ref>{{cite news|title=The fight to save Sirinat|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/archive/the-fight-to-save-sirinat/433709|accessdate=27 January 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2014-09-23}}</ref>

In January 2016, it was reported that about 1,200 [[rai (area)|rai]] of Sirinat Park land was "detached" from the park by unscrupulous officials and sold to property developers, completed with illegal deeds, for 40 million baht per rai or approximately 50 billion baht in total. "The land had been detached from the national park so investers [sic] could build resorts and several well-known hotels,...", according to Mr Damrong Phidet, a former director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crooked officials sold Phuket forest reserve land|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/830192/crooked-officials-sold-phuket-forest-reserve-land|accessdate=27 January 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-01-18}}</ref>

==Attractions==
Sirinat National Park is best known for its well-preserved white sand beaches. Also, Hat Mai Khao and Hat Nai Yang are both [[sea turtle]] nesting areas. Between November and February sea turtles come to lay eggs on these beaches.<ref name=DNP/>

==Flora and fauna==
The park's beach forests, approximately {{convert|2|km2}} in area, consist of numerous tree species with the effect of providing a windbreak during tropical storms and stabilising the beach sands. Tree species include [[Casuarina equisetifolia|common ironwood]], [[Thespesia populnea|tulip tree]], [[Terminalia catappa|tropical almond]], [[Barringtonia asiatica|white barringtonia]], [[Melaleuca leucadendra|cajeput tree]], [[Calophyllum inophyllum|Alexandrian laurel]], [[Pandanus fascicularis|screwpine]], [[Saraca asoca|ashoka tree]], [[Eugenia cumini|black plum]], [[Dillenia indica|elephant apple]] and [[Ipomoea|morning glory]].<ref name=DNP/>

Beach forest birds include [[magpie-robin]], [[common myna]], [[spotted dove]], [[Asian fairy-bluebird]], [[Old World oriole|oriole]], [[greater racket-tailed drongo]] and some [[bulbul]] species.<ref name=DNP/>

Sirinat National Park also hosts a small area (1 square kilometre) of [[mangrove forest]], located where freshwater and seawater mix in estuarine areas. Tree species here include [[Rhizophora mucronata|red mangrove]], [[Avicennia marina|white mangrove]], [[Bruguiera gymnorhiza|black mangrove]], [[Xylocarpus granatum|cannonball mangrove]], [[Heritiera littoralis|looking-glass mangrove]] and ''[[Ceriops]]''. Other plant species include ''[[Rhizophora apiculata]]'' and ''[[Derris trifoliata]]''.<ref name=DNP/>

Mangrove forest birds include [[collared kingfisher]], [[Terek sandpiper]], [[bar-tailed godwit]], [[white-breasted waterhen]], [[slaty-breasted rail]], [[white-bellied sea eagle]], [[brahminy kite]] and [[large-billed crow]].<ref name=DNP/>

The mangrove forest hosts some reptiles such as [[monitor lizard]], [[Boiga|mangrove snake]] and [[turtle]].

Mangrove marine life includes [[shrimp]], [[mudskipper]], [[Mullet (fish)|mullet]], [[grouper]] and [[garfish]].

Coral reefs are located in the marine section of the park at a distance of  {{convert|700|m}} to {{convert|1000|m}} offshore. Reef species include [[plate coral]], [[Octocorallia|soft coral]], [[sea fan]] and [[sea anemone]].<ref name=DNP/>

Formerly, [[leatherback sea turtle]]s laid eggs on a stretch of beach in Sirinat National Park. At the park, 166 eggs were laid between 1999–2013, but the survival rate was small given the intensive property development along the beach. Since 2013 no further eggs have been observed there. Thailand was once a sanctuary for leatherback turtles.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wipatayotin|first1=Apinya|title=Turtle power on wane as trawlers take toll| url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1371707/turtle-power-on-wane-as-trawlers-take-toll|accessdate=4 December 2017|work=Bangkok Post|date=4 December 2017}}</ref>

==Location==
{|role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|'''Sirinat National Park in overview PARO 5 (Nakhon Si Thammarat)'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[File:MAP of PARO 5 Southwest (Nakhon Si Thammarat) EN.svg|thumb|900px|{{resize|150%|'''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17) Sirinat National Park in overview PARO 5 (Nakhon Si Thammarat)'''}}]]
{| class= "wikitable" style= "width:30%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#00FF00;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:27%;"|'''National park'''
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;1 ||[[Ao Phang Nga National Park|Ao Phang Nga]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;2 ||[[Hat Chao Mai National Park|Hat Chao Mai]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;3 ||[[Hat Khanom–Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park|Hat Khanom–Mu Ko Thale Tai]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;4 ||[[Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park|Hat Noppharat Thara–<br>Mu Ko Phi Phi]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;5 ||[[Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park|Khao Lak–Lam Ru]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;6 ||[[Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park|Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;7 ||[[Khao Luang National Park|Khao Luang]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;8 ||[[Khao Nan National Park|Khao Nan]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;9 ||[[Khao Phanom Bencha National Park|Khao Phanom Bencha]]
|-
|10 ||[[Mu Ko Lanta National Park|Mu Ko Lanta]]
|-
|11 ||[[Mu Ko Phetra National Park|Mu Ko Phetra]]
|-
|12 ||[[Mu Ko Similan National Park|Mu Ko Similan]]
|-
|13 ||[[Mu Ko Surin National Park|Mu Ko Surin]]
|-
|14 ||[[Namtok Si Khit National Park|Namtok Si Khit]]
|-
|15 ||[[Namtok Yong National Park|Namtok Yong]]
|-
|16 ||[[Si Phang Nga National Park|Si Phang Nga]]
|-
|17 ||Sirinat
|-
|18 ||[[Tarutao National Park|Tarutao]]
|-
|19 ||[[Thale Ban National Park|Thale Ban]]
|-
|20 ||[[Than Bok Khorani National Park|Than Bok Khorani]]
|-
|}
{| class= "wikitable" style= "width:30%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width=3%; background:#FFA400;"|&nbsp;
| style="width=27%;"|'''Wildlife sanctuary'''
|-
|21 ||[[Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary|Kathun]]
|-
|22 ||[[Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary|Khao Pra–Bang Khram]]
|-
|23 ||[[Khlong Phraya Wildlife Sanctuary|Khlong Phraya]]
|-
|24 ||[[Namtok Song Phraek Wildlife Sanctuary|Namtok Song Phraek]]
|-
|}
{| class= "wikitable" style= "width:30%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#FDE910;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:27%;"|'''Non-hunting area'''
|-
|25 ||Bo Lo
|-
|26 ||Khao Nam Phrai
|-
|27 ||Khao Phra Thaeo
|-
|28 ||Khao Pra–Bang Khram
|-
|29 ||Khlong Lam Chan
|-
|30 ||Laem Talumpuk
|-
|31 ||[[Ko Libong]]
|-
|32 ||Nong Plak Phraya–<br>Khao Raya Bangsa
|-
|33 ||Thung Thale
|-
|&nbsp;||&nbsp;
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#C65900;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:27%;"|'''Forest park'''
|-
|34 ||Bo Namrong Kantang
|-
|35 ||Namtok Phan
|-
|36 ||Namtok Raman
|-
|37 ||Namtok Thara Sawan
|-
|38 ||Sa Nang Manora
|}
|}
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[List of national parks of Thailand]]
* DNP - Sirinat National Park<ref>{{cite web |url=https://portal.dnp.go.th/Content/nationalpark?contentId=35083 |title=Sirinat National Park |department=Department National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
*[[List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{National and forest parks in Thailand}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Thailand]]
[[Category:Geography of Phuket province]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Phuket province]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Thailand]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1981]]