Thailand's other wildlife
Besides tigers, there are plenty of other wildlife viewing options in Thailand.
In Prachuap Khiri Khan province, there are wild fishing cats. These relatively small (weighing no more than 15 kilos) nocturnal animals mainly hang out in the wetlands of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. If you're very low-impact -- and lucky -- spotting one is not impossible.
Contact the Fishing Cat Research and Conservation Project first for tips and the latest on the endangered cat's status.
Better yet is a wildlife spotting adventure in Khao Yai National Park, said Cutter, which is the best place in Thailand to see mammals like elephants, gibbons, macaques, barking deer and the buffalo-like gaur.
“The gibbons in Khao Yai have been research suspects for so long that they are really unafraid of humans, so it's a great place to get close to them,” said Cutter.
And Thailand has amazing offerings for birders. Assorted bitterns, herons, egrets, storks, hornbills and ibises can be found in the country's wetlands.
The great hornbill, while rare, can be found in certain areas including Khao Yai. White-bellied sea eagles are common in the Andaman Sea, and on islands like Koh Phi Phi.
And though spotting a tiger in the wild is a long shot, the next best thing you can do to help the striped cat is make a donation to a reputable NGO. Try Freeland, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society, all of which have operations in Thailand.