The wildlife of Thailand includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Thailand's tropical landscape shelters some of Southeast Asia's most charismatic and endangered. The Western Forest Complex is one of the largest protected area systems in mainland Southeast Asia; its 17 contiguous protected areas cover more than 7,000 square miles. Thailand has the most extensive protected area system in the region, encompassing 60 percent of its remnant wildernesses and 15 percent of the total land area. Wildlife in Thailand is protected by both National and International laws. Unfortunately though, unique species have declined over years through lack of scientific knowledge and illegal poaching and hunting. This has renderded many protected areas “empty forests”.