History
The park was created on 12 June 1981 as the 28th national park of Thailand. Originally covering an area of 2,478 km², it was enlarged in December 1984 to include the boundary area between Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces.
The park has been included in the list ofASEAN Heritage Parks. In 2005 it was also submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future world heritage site.
The killing of wild elephants is a big problem at the park,[1][dead link] with authorities unable to control poachers.[2] Some park officials are allegedly involved in the trade of elephant parts.[3]
Despite national park status, there are private plantations within the confines of Kaeng Krachan National Park. Some of these are surrounded by electric fences which, in June 2013, fatally electrocuted an elephant calf.[4]