Man Fights Tiger at Khao Yai National Park - Incredible Story of Survival
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 เม.ย. 2021
- I interview a man who fought with man-eating tiger for his life for over 20 minutes at Khao Yai National Park Thailand. Watch as the victim of the tiger attack tells his dramatic story and show his scars at the very place where the incident occurred. Despite what happened he wishes to see tigers return to Khao Yai and like me misses the sense of excitement that you experienced when tigers still roamed Khao Yai's jungle.
I also tell the story of my own 2 wild tiger encounters at Khao Yai National Park nearly 30 years ago. I also show the very rare photographs that I took at the time. They're not great pictures but I have never met anybody else who has photographed a wild Indochinese Tiger at Khao Yai.
#karlsthailand #khaoyai #lovethailand
This video was filmed and edited entirely on my iPhone
Karl's Thailand likes and posts on Beauty, Made in Thailand / 1053024358504146
Tiger footage is licensed under a Creative Content License 4.0 International License based on works at • HULL- Tigers Of Terai ... and • Tiger Sighting in Kanh... with thanks.
#KarlsThailand #Thailand #Khaoyai - บันเทิง
This is VERY interesting indeed. I didn't go until 98 and I'm pretty sure they were long gone by then. I've got a story about the crocs that 'reappeared' over the last few years though..
Yes, I consider myself very lucky to have seen wild tigers in Thailand. Every time I show my pictures to a ranger there they want to shake my hand. I think they were last photographed within the National Park about 2004
Is there crocs in the wild still ?
Just watched this again after editing the video of our recent trip to Khao Yai.... this should have a million views mate! Really good watch and great that you got the photos! I will put a link in my upoload, which should at least get you a few views haha....
Nice of you to say so Jimmy, I must admit that it’s probably the video I am most proud of because of the way it all came together, especially getting that interview with Khammuan
Fascinating stuff, Karl. I really feel for that Thai guy. What a terrifying experience, so glad he survived. Great video.
Thanks Ed, for me the most incredible thing is that despite what happened to him he hopes to see Tigers return to the National Park once more. It was cool of him to offer me that interview without me even having to ask. I would have asked him in all honesty but would have been a bit concerned as to how he might respond
You really have lived a life that not many others have, great experiences and thanks for sharing them with us. 😎👍🙏
Thanks. That was nearly 30 years ago though but they were incredible experiences, especially now that tigers are believed to be absent from Khao Yai National Park
Wow Karl...I've been to Khao Yai and heard they hadn't seen Tigers there for 15-20 years. However, walking down a trail from a campsite to a waterfall was incredibly eerie with the noises of the jungle. Additionally, you don't realise how dense the jungle is until you experience it first hand. Humbling experience and one I won't forget. Great video Karl and what an honour for you to talk to someone who survived a tiger attack. Thanks for sharing 👍
Yes, I do say in the video that they haven’t been seen in the National Park since 2006 but that they might return by migration from bordering National Parks that still have existing populations. Khao Yai is still a great National Park though. I was very pleased when Khammuan volunteered to let me interview him. Thanks for the feedback
Absolutely amazing stories. Thank you so much for sharing them Karl. Health and Happiness. Mitch 🙏
Thanks Mitch
Terrific video mate.
Great video 👍
Thank you Wayne
Amazing stories, thanks for sharing this Karl.
Thanks for the positive feedback Anton
That is incredible... just seeing those scars where the fangs had punctured his arm are absolutely terrifying.
Yes, I must admit that I had no idea he was going to show his scars like that
Great video's Karl really enjoying them .
Thanks Jim
FANTASTIC karl cheers 👍
Thank you Pat
GREAT VIDEO, THANK YOU KARL!
Thanks Mark, if you don’t know the ‘Rob’ who was with me at the time of my second encounter was Rob C who you knew who used to live in Pinner/Rayners Lane. Ever hear from him?
@@karlsthailand Wow! Rob Collier! Thats a blast from the past! No not heard from him in several decades, last sighting I know of was Rob Brown saw him driving a lorry in Wealdstone, this was at least 10 years ago perhaps longer. Both Keith and myself have searched for him online but come up empty handed.
You will never believe this, but I was there that very morning. I stayed in pak chong the night before and drove up to the park at the crack of dawn. I started hiking toward the observation tower through the grass, and began having thoughts, which seemed whimsical at the time, that a tiger could be watching me and I would never know. It wasn't until I returned to Bangkok several days later that I saw the story in the Bangkok Post. The story in the Post was very close as I recall to what is retold in the interview here, although as I remember it, after it was shot the tiger was found to be quite old and emaciated, which stands to reason because if it had not been I don't think the ranger would have had any chance. I'm very glad to have found this online. I've told the story many times over the years and now I have a video to share.
That’s incredible. Khao Yai was another place back then, the atmosphere was so different knowing that tigers were around. I’d often find their pug marks around the trails and it did make you think. I was very pleased to meet him after knowing of the incident for many years and even more happy when he volunteered for the interview
Very interesting, Karl.
Cheers Paul, I’m proud of getting that interview
Amazing stories from a fantastic place and its people Karl !
Thanks Per, I knew about the guy who fought the tiger so I asked at the HQ if I could hire him as a guide. It was great that he volunteered to tell his story at the very place that it happened
You have made the series of incredible videoes , thanks for exploring the real nature for viewers and the thing you do are my ultimate dream..
Thank you jirarat, yes I do feel very lucky for some of the things I have seen and done
Brilliant Video Karl But Scary Take care xxxx
You know me 😉😘
Great vid, well narrated.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing your stories. You've got very good story telling technique. Do feel sad about the tiger.
Yes, it turned out that the tiger, although otherwise healthy had some bullet fragments in it’s legs which probably made it harder for it to catch quick animals like deer. I was impressed by Kammuan, who can imagine what he went through for more than 20 minutes? And he still wants to see tigers return
WOW! Those are very interesting stories. That was one lucky Ranger! There are so many poachers now.
Yes Norman, it’s a dangerous job that requires lots of dedication
Three amazing stories.
Thanks, glad you think so! They were certainly experiences I will never forget and that Kammuan can never forget. Who can imagine what he went through for over 20 minutes that afternoon?
Just found your channel through NDtviThailand. Thanks so very much for your marvellous videos on the bats & this gripping story piece too. I plan to go back to Khao Yai & the bat caves which both fascinated me. The rangers do great conservation work with Thai schoolchildren. I saw this first hand & was impressed. i forget off the top of my head where it was, a Nat Park, (& I would not say here anyway lol) but a ranger told me they have traced tigers there too on trail cameras. I also read in the UK press that there are an increase in TH tiger ppn numbers just in recent yrs. All the v best.
Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's great news that the tigers in the adjoined forest complex are doing so well and those National Park Rangers are forgotten heroes.
Lifetime ambition has always been to see a wild Tiger too Karl! Astonishing experiences mate... thanks for sharing! Always loved that scene in Apocalypse Now (1979) when the boat cook gets spooked by a Tiger whilst looking for Mangoes... 'never get outta of the goddamn boat!' Fighting with it for 20 terrifying minutes for goodness sake??? Great channel. SUBD!
Thanks Artiz, I’m totally aware of how privileged I was to have had those experiences and also aware of how much time I put into the pursuit of them. It’s a lot harder now but it could still be done if someone was willing to do the work, build the connections necessary to gain access to areas where they still exist and put in the time. Yes, that’s my favourite movie of all time, I never tire of watching it
Dear Karl ,coincidently I came across your Video about Tiger sightings at Khao Yai. A lot of memories came up again. In 1990/91 I worked for the German named Klaus who owned Khao Yai Garden Lodge at km7 outside Pak Chong. While guiding Guests we also met occasionally,or the Swedish guy, I think his name was Tom. I was never lucky enough to see a Tiger but heard one at Nong Pak Chi.It was roaring half the night and you could follow by the sound where he walked along the forest edge. Very early in the morning the Deer were in high alert. There was also no roaring no more,but you could feel the tension around. Unfortunately a few Thai Tourists walked in on the dirt and the stomping and barking of the Sambar Deer stopped. The Tiger was disturbed and gave up stalking. I do hope also that Tigers will return to Khao Yai,and also that their numbers will increase again in Thailand and other parts of Asia.
Thanks Stefan, I remember Klaus but never spoke to him, I used to see him taking groups to Khao Yai and eating at the old restaurant area in what is now the car park. Yes, that type of experience wasn’t rare back then, I ‘nearly’ saw a tiger a few times before I actually did. I might put the stories into another video sometime but they were pretty similar to yours, you could hear the tiger, the deer barking but not see it. It was definitely a more exciting place back then
Great stories !! Please do tell us more of your early days in Thailand.
I have some videos coming soon where I will show my old pictures from 1987-1992 and tell the stories and memories behind them
@@karlsthailand Very good news, looking forward to the stories & photos.
Amazing experience Karl. So sad they have disappeared let’s hope they return. That man was very lucky!
Wasn’t he just Trevor? Yes, Khao Yai was a lot more exciting while the tigers were there, even the ranger who was attacked Want’s to see them return.
I went to Khao Yai twice, first time in 1988 and then again in 1999. I walked most of the trails alone hoping to see the tracks of a tiger... I never saw one though, only heard what I think was elephants but never saw any of those either ... listening to your stories, I probably was lucky! Lol I do remember people at the park was talking about the tiger attack that happened a year before my second trip. It was very interesting to see your video and listen to your stories and the ranger´s first hand count on how the attack actually happened! Keep it up my friend! ; )
My recollection is that tiger tracks or even hearing tigers calling wasn’t rare back then, especially if you hiked deeper into the National Park. You could just about hike wherever you wanted to back then whereas these days many places are considered out of bounds. Having said that seeing or hearing anything always involved a large element of luck. I put the time in but also had my share of luck. With hindsight it was establishing a friendship with the rangers there that lead to both of my tiger encounters. To this day whenever I go there and show a ranger my tiger pictures they all want to shake my hand. For me the coolest thing to come from it all is the fact that Khammuan still wants to see tigers return to Khao Yai despite what happened to him.
Fantastic story. I love to travel and always head to the wild areas. In India i saw a wild tiger at Ranthambore, in Uganda wild mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in Canada a wild grizzly at Yoho; however, highlight was following a young Jaguar in Corcovado national park in Costa Rica just after sunrise -a rare sight !
This year i am heading back to Thailand. To see a wild tiger in Thailand would be a dream come true, though i know how elusive these creatures are.
Great photos, mate. Love your enthusiasm.
Forgot to add: wild tigers are back in Khao Yai.
Wow, that's quite a list of sightings. Actually I think I would find the jaguar sighting the most rewarding too. Seeing a wild tiger in Thailand these days requires the luck of a big lottery winner or a lot of time, effort and connection building. When I show those pictures to rangers at Khao Yai today they want to shake my hand, thinking back then although sightings were hard to make, tiger tracks, scrapings, tree sprays and scat were often seen at Khao yai if you actually got onto the trails that went deep into the forest. I just don't find it anywhere as exciting to visit these days although I still consider worthwhile.
Great story.
Thanks Francois, yes, I was very happy that he volunteered to let me Interview him. It’s a story that needs to be told
wonderful story
I feel so privileged to have had those experiences Gordon. Thanks
that thai man was very lucky hell of a story
He was indeed Leroy, incredible story, I’m so pleased that he volunteered to be interviewed by me.
@@karlsthailand my thai wife is from nakon nyoka
Great great video. If you ever get many subscribers, I hope you re-play this one for the masses.
I found your channel by watching Mr. Egg at Le Pub.. and I'll look at more videos.. thanks.
Curtis in Las Vegas.. moving back to Jomtien FOR GOOD in July. (90 days to wait and I feel like a child waiting for Christmas)
Thanks. I hope your plans to retire to Jomtien work out well for you
Great stories!! Thank you for sharing both your stories along with Khammuan's story. I can't wait to visit Thailand again and visit Khao Yai national park. My parents were born in Laos and they would tell stories of how ferocious yet majestic tigers were. When tigers call in search of a mating partners, one can feel the sound vibrating all through your chest and bones.
Glad you enjoyed it! It's incredible that not too long ago tigers were part of many people's lives here in Southeast Asia but now it's hard to find anyone who has ever seen one in the wild. I made a playlist on my channel with some of my other tiger related content in case you never saw it. Thanks
You are indeed a very lucky man Karl, in more ways than one!!! Very sad to hear of the tigers eventual death, i guess sometimes its the only option!! Keep safe, Chok Dee Khrap.
Yes, that’s what I really admired about Khammuan, he felt that Khao Yai has been missing something since the tigers disappeared. He understood that what happened to him when he was 21 was a freak occurrence. Apparently the found some bullets in the tiger’s leg that probably meant it was unable to catch it’s usual prey
Great story, what a lucky man.
Thanks, I was so grateful to get that interview with him without even having to ask. For me the most fascinating aspect is that he wants tigers to return to the National Park again, like me preferred the atmosphere of excitement that prevailed in the past
Very interesting video Karl, I would like to go to that park and ones like it one day. It would be nice to know that the tigers returned one day. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dave, I’d love to see them return. We might be able to work out a trip there when you return
@@karlsthailand sounds great, I would love to hike up there. We can plan something when I move there. Take care.
Incredible story
Indeed. Who can imagine what he went through eh?
Wow great stories! I heard a similar story of a guy who got attacked by a grizzly in Canada - he would have died if he hadn't had a knife in his pocket! Great channel, glad to have found you through Paddy Doyle. Cheers from Yorkshire Karl!
In all honesty it happened so fast that I never really had time to get scared. On the second occasion if it was going to attack I really believe it would have happened in the first few seconds
@@karlsthailand yes, I've been cornered by packs of wild dogs in Spain, and I did what farmers do when cattle approach you - arms raised, shout loudly and move towards them, they always back off, but I don't want to ever try it with tigers!
P.S. I was attacked as a child by a large Doberman Pincher.. (Jonny Sheffields Dod, who played Boy in the Tarzan movies) and even if I don't like to admit it, I have never been comfortable with animals. I would hike in the mountains and foothills of San Diego California often .. with many warning signs posted of Cougars (mountain lions) and realized after time, that my paranoia took all the pleasure out of those hikes.. and I stopped going.
That’s a shame. As I said in the video I actually miss the feeling of danger at Khao Yai while tigers were still present
Huai Kha Khaeng .just done some research this is where they say tigers are doing really well
Yes, there are a whole series of National Parks and other protected areas that adjoin to make one huge conservation area and tigers appear to be increasing in numbers. I have been to Huai Kha Khaeng twice, 30 years apart. They do accept visitors but only to a limited degree so it’s not like a National Park. It’s very limited in terms of freedom of movement within the area unless you are in a position to get permits etc.
awesome bro, do a vlog on what took you to Thailand? are you ex military?
No Rich, not ex military. This interview I did might answer your question th-cam.com/video/j3-Prn9x_hs/w-d-xo.html
Great stories bro. Thanks for sharing. I've been lucky enough to spot bears, elephants, a leopard cat and a king cobra in Khao Yai.
Have you been to Thap Lan and Pang Sida national parks and if so how was it?
Thanks. I’ve been to Thap Lan briefly but never Pang Sida, I’m aware that in some ways they are a greater haven for wildlife than Khao Yai in the same forest complex. I’d love to look for the crocodiles there. I think the beauty of Khao Yai NP is that it’s relatively easy to visit and hike and look for the wildlife (Spotlight Night Safari for example)
Great video, Khun Khammuan Thongtam what a guy, can you imagane having a 20 minute fight with a tiger, thats a story that would impress the ladies. 😎👍
Myself and Khammuan had actually met on a jungle trail a few years before I made this video but I never realised who he was at the time. He was in charge of one of the ranger stations and I was heading in as he was heading out late one evening. I left a bottle of Lao Khao at the station for him when he returned and when we did this video we were talking and he realised it was me. Yes, it’s an incredible story, I can’t imagine what he went through
@@karlsthailand I was going through the comments and found one about crocs been found there do you know anything about this?
There was one that lived in the Lam Takong river until 2018. Most believe that it was put there but one of the neighbouring NP's does still have a few remnant crocodiles so it might have got there naturally. I did see and video it just a month or two before it disappeared apparently forever, it had been known to be there for about 11 years. You can see the video I took in this video th-cam.com/video/NsZN-cCR_H0/w-d-xo.html
Interesting stories. Have you ever been to Klong Lan national park in Kamphaeng Phet Province?
No, that’s still on the list. I have been to nearby Mae Wong National Park though. Is it worth a visit? Any decent hiking trails?
@@karlsthailand Not sure about good trekking as its not for me but we still have tigers, black panthers and leopards up here.
Yes, that whole area to the West bordering Burma is great for wildlife. Sometimes those National Parks are hard to visit though. I hate travelling to them and then realising you can only access the campsite by the HQ lol. So I prefer one’s with hiking trails even if you have to hire a ranger
Great vlog. The only annoying thing is your subtitles overlaying each other. Looking forward to watching your other work.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve set it up to play the Thai subtitles by default (to attract Thai subscribers) but if you click the ‘CC’ button they will disappear. I understand that it might annoy some people but at least that way people are aware that the Thai subtitles are there if they want them.
@@karlsthailand ok great I will do that, cheers Karl
lucky fella,
Indeed he was, fighting a wild tiger with your bare hand for over 20 minutes, it doesn’t bare thinking about
@@karlsthailand Sorry mate, my "Lucky Fella" comment was focused on you actually seeing a tiger
Indeed, lucky enough to see one twice and also ‘nearly’ saw them a couple of other times. One time I missed seeing one at a ranger station because I was having a splash shower and another we could hear one nearby but it just never quite came into view. That was all a long time ago though now
@@karlsthailand I was listening to an Old Thai guy who told me that Tigers were a common sight West of Ta Phraya National Park. That is where I am going birding soon so lets hope some of your luck rubs off
It’s all about gaining access to areas where they are still seen. Taa Phraya and other parts of the Khao Yai-Dong Phayayen Forest Complex are possibilities for sure. For me it was volume of visits and the fact that I got to know the rangers which gave me access at times when strictly speaking I shouldn’t have been there. It’s tougher like that these days and in the current situation access seems to be being denied to more and more areas. Early morning and early evening are probably your best chance. Listen for signs of animals like deer being alarmed and keep your ears and eyes peeled and good luck. I would say Huai Kha Khaeng is your best bet. I have not been there for a few years now but always found the rangers friendly and cooperative if they liked you
Come to India the land of tigers 🔥🔥🔥
Yes, there are places in India where they can still be seen. It's a great challenge to see them in Thailand. Thanks
I could tell you the night I woke up in my dads car in the Serengeti,got my torch out and there was a female lions face no more than 6 inches from mine separated only by the cars glass window…..to this day I don’t know who got the bigger surprise, me or the lioness….
Must have been incredibly growing up with all that happening around you. I think the Africa is just on another scale to Asia when it comes to National Parks and wildlife viewing g opportunities
@@karlsthailand the Kruger park is bigger than Wales!……beats Whipsnade hands down:)
@@karlsthailand been and stayed at the Victoria falls among other things…..got chased down the Kafue River in a tiny broken boat in the dark in Zambia by Hippos, not a lot of fun!….caught a 394lb Blu Marlin in Gran Canaria……the list goes on mate as I’m sure does yours:)
Why weren't you scared mate?
The first time, when I took the pictures you could just tell it wasn’t hunting, it looked right at me and then just looked away. The second encounter was much closer and a bit scary at the time and a bit creepy while it was following us but I figured that if it was going to attack it would have been in the first few seconds. I must admit that hearing Khammuan’s story did make me realise how different it could have been
Wow he is so lucky shame they had to kill the tiger.
Yes, it was unfortunate Jason but once they start attacking people they will continue to do so.